A healthy diet is important for everyone, but doubly so following a cancer diagnosis. Proper nutrition can help those with cancer gain the strength they need for chemotherapy treatments, protect against infections, prevent body tissue from breaking down, and help rebuild tissue. Good nutrition also helps patients cope with any cancer treatment side effects and may even be able to help them handle higher doses of certain drugs.
Recommendations for receiving proper nutrition for cancer patients may focus on helping them eat more higher calorie, higher protein foods. For example, the doctor may recommend drinking more milk or eating more foods like cheese and cooked eggs. Other suggestions might include increasing the use of sauces and gravies, or changing cooking methods to include more butter, margarine, or oil. Sometimes, nutrition recommendations for cancer patients suggest eating less of certain high-fiber foods which can aggravate problems such as diarrhea or a sore mouth.
During treatment, cancer patients may suffer from a lack of appetite. When that is the case, it’s often recommended to try to eat anything that can be easily digested.
On treatment days, patients should:
- Talk with the nurse to learn about ways to relax if feeling sick before treatment.
- Learn when it’s most comfortable to eat and drink. Sometimes, patients feel better when they eat a little just before treatment. Others feel better when they have nothing to eat or drink before treatment.
- After treatment, wait at least one hour before eating or drinking.
Some foods and drinks that may be easier on the stomach during cancer treatments include:
- Clear broth
- Grape juice
- Baked chicken without skin
- Crackers
- Pasta
- White rice
- Baked potatoes
- Bananas
- Gelatin
- Yogurt
- Popsicles
A healthy diet is vital for a person’s body to work its best. Visiting Angels’ California home care services can provide help to cancer patients by planning, shopping for, and preparing nutritious and delicious meals that meet their caloric needs. Contact us to learn more about our in-home care services throughout Santa Clara County and portions of Alameda County. We can make you feel more comfortable as you go through your treatments. To contact our Fremont office, call 510-284-0000 or to contact our Sunnyvale office, call 408-735-0977.