Providing free online community support to people affected by breast cancer

Forums » Chemotherapy

• Glenys

  

  • 162 posts
  March 1, 2013 4:52:00 PM WATime

  Report

  CHEMOTHERAPY & FOOD

  
  

  The main goal before, during, and after chemotherapy is to maintain adequate calories for weight maintenance and adequate protein to optimize your immune system and strength. So eating a good diet would be considered 'sound advice!'. During chemotherapy however, foods that are usually favourites can be unappealing and there are times when you just don't feel like eating anything!.

  
  

  Good nutrition intake (& eating in general) may be affected by chemo due to some common side effects, particularly to the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract. The GI tract starts at the mouth and goes all the way through to the other end, therefore it’s possible to experience dry, sore mouth, mouth ulcers, nausea, change of taste, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation.

  Fatigue, low mood, anxiety and stress may also affect appetite and eating habits.

   

  Medications to ease the effects of these symptoms are usually prescribed around each chemo treatment. Discussing how well these are working with your treatment team is very important, as the type of medication or dose may need to be adjusted to be the most effective for you.

   

  Everyone’s experience may be different. Determining which side effects are affecting you the most is important to help with finding ways to treat them. For example, if mouth ulcers make eating too painful, using a soothing mouth gel may ease the discomfort (see 'Mouthcare during chemotherapy' in FORUM).

   

  GENERAL TIPS:

  •    * To help with taste, try rinsing your mouth before eating with a recommended mouthwash (ask treatment team or pharmacist for recommendations)
  •    * Keep mouth moist – liquid saliva is available for dry mouth problems
  •    * Try sucking ice cubes, mints or lemon candy through the day (some swear by lemon barley)
  •    * Eat small meals more often, e.g. try 6 small meals per day.
  •    * Keep nutritious snacks on hand and eat when least nauseous.
  •    * Avoid hot, spicy foods, oily and greasy foods and very sweet sugary foods as these usually are of low nutritional value, irritate the GI tract, dehydrate or may worsen nausea.
  •    * Keep food tasty. Add herbs and flavours. Casseroles, soups and stews may be more palatable.
  •    * Drink plenty of fluids to keep well hydrated. If water is unpalatable, try adding slice of lemon or try flavoured mineral water
  •    * Milkshakes, protein shakes and other nutritious drinks may be more tolerable 

   

  MORE TIPS FOR SPECIFIC SYMPTOMS:

        Loss of appetite for food (Anorexia)

  •       - Make every bite count - choose high calorie and protein foods (i.e. casseroles, peanut butter added to snacks, nutritious milkshakes, supplement drinks such as 'Ensure')
  •     - Plan ahead - plan a daily menu in advance
  •     - Strive to eat at least 1/3 of your calorie and protein needs at breakfast
  •     - Eat 5-6 small meals per day (helps to add extra calories and protein)
  •     - Try new foods - this might spark your appetite

   

       Nausea/Vomiting

  •     - Avoid large meals (small serves may seem less challenging to eat!)
  •     - Avoid foods with strong smells (NB: warmed foods tend to smell stronger)
  •     - Where possible, avoid preparing food yourself (especially raw meat) 
  •     - Eat slowly
  •     - Avoid drinking beverages with meals (fills you up too much)
  •     - Stay upright after a meal (lying down may worsen nausea)
  •     - Distractions such as TV, music, or reading may be helpful while eating
  •     - * Try peppermint or ginger tea to ease nausea, or try chewing small amounts of crystallized ginger

   

       Diarrhoea

  •     - *Ensure drink plenty of fluids - sip slowly & frequently. Include cordials & soft drinks to ensure some calorie intake
  •     - Avoid irritating foods, e.g. hot, spicy, greasy foods
  •     - Avoid high fibre foods (i.e. raw fruit and vegetables, coarse whole grains) 
  •     - Try good soluble fibre foods (i.e. rice, bananas, white bread, oatmeal, mashed potatoes, applesauce, skinless chicken)
  •     - Increase the amount of sodium (salt) and potassium in your diet

   

       Constipation

  •     - **Drink plenty of fluids
  •     - Increase fibre intake (fruits, vegetables, and whole grains)
  •     - *In some cases a low fibre diet may be appropriate, with increased clear liquids - important to discuss which diet is right for you with your treating team

   

  Your treating team will usually provide you with dietary advice during chemotherapy. Discuss any specific concerns or problems you are having with them. Where available, a Dietician may also assist with advice. 

  
  

   

  We've also listed some tips from members in this section - see 'Food & Drink tips from Click Chat'.

   

  There are many useful sites on the net, with many more tips, recipes to try and good advice. Recommended sites include Cancer Australia, Cancer Council & Breast Cancer Network Australia sites.

   

  Please add any comments, hints or tips that worked for you .. maybe they'll work for others too!  

  

  The Click Breast Care Nurse 

• Jacque

  

  • 1 posts
  March 1, 2013 5:39:35 PM WATime

  Report

  Ulcers gahhh my biggest struggle yet!! these tips are great thank you.. its been a lot of trial by error which can get very expensive, in the end I learnt mouthwash mouthwash mouthwash lol and the non invasive one such as biotene provided by my chemo team (would never have guessed how important that was gonna become!!) I was unfortunate to get one further back toward my throat which makes eating, sleeping and swallowing in general near impossible.. My Dr prescribed me Xylocaine a numbing agent it was like liquid heaven!! Im hoping they will be healed by my next treatment where i will be a lil more wiser.. Between the Ulcers and all the other nasty lil side effects of chemo i could near apply for a job at the pharmacy by the end of all this haha :)

  Im a 32yr old mom of 4 girls 8,9,12 and 14yrs.. diagnosed Nov 2012, Grade 3, 12mm, 5mm, 1mm ER+ PR+ Her2-, 2/14 + nodes, bilateral mastectomy, chemo (FEC).. Jacque +