Diet & Nutrition During Chemo & Radiation Therapy

Chemo and radiation therapy can cause diet and nutrition issues that also affect psychological conditions such as depression, anxiety and mood swings. Nutrition is extremely important for cancer patients at all times. During chemotherapy and radiation, the goal is to maintain adequate nutrition to optimize the immune system, maintain strength and tolerate the treatments. It is essential to include a balanced diet through a physician or dietitian's care to monitor the appropriate dietary alternatives. Diet and nutrition during chemo and radiation therapy should be based on tolerance levels associated with specific physical symptoms.

Healthy Meals

• According to the American Cancer Society, some people gain weight during chemotherapy, despite nausea, due to trying to manage certain food cravings. This is one of the reasons it is essential to engage in the best nutrition strategy possible during treatment. Eating well helps to cope with side effects and better fight infection to rebuild healthy tissues faster.

  Choose a balanced diet that contains as many of the nutrients that the body needs and that can be tolerated. Include as many vegetables and as much poultry and fish as possible. Balance the diet with whole gains and low-fat dairy products. Ensure that enough calories are consumed to keep weight at a satisfactory level with enough protein to repair muscles, organs, skin and hair. In general, eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables and two to three servings of whole grains daily. Drink plenty of water and electrolyte fluids to protect the bladder and kidneys during treatment. Avoid processed foods and those that contain preservatives as much as possible; limit fat to 20 percent and lower sugar intake.

Diet and Side Effects

• Chemotherapy can cause a variety of side effects that affect the stomach such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and constipation, as well as taste and appetite changes, fatigue, mouth sores and headaches. Radiation therapy can effect the body according to the type of radiation on specific body areas. Head, neck and chest treatment can cause dry mouth, throat pain and difficulty swallowing, as well as taste changes and stomach discomfort.

  A healthy diet including the foods from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food Guide Pyramid including the five different foods groups maintained throughout each day is optimum. However, because of side effects of chemo and radiation treatment, it is not always possible.

  When unpleasant side effects make it more difficult to consume healthy foods in their natural form, consider alternatives such as a clear liquid diet of fruit juice, herb teas and vegetable or other broths. As symptoms subside, items such as milk, cream soups and hot cereal can be added. The diet may advance so that regular healthy foods can be introduced slowly.

Alternative Nutrition Methods

• In addition to a clear liquid diet, special nutritional shakes that can be made at home, as well as those produced for diabetics, can be good alternatives to meals when healthy food is hard to tolerate. Liquid and powder meal replacements taken three to six times a day can be beneficial. Keep healthy snacks such as peanut butter crackers, granola, protein bars, nuts, dried fruit, hard boiled eggs, cheese sticks, fresh cut vegetables and fruit and trail mix available. Sometimes it is easier to tolerate small snacks than full meals. Try to sip small amounts of liquids during meals so fullness prior to finishing a small meal does not occur.

Vitamin and Herb Supplements

• Before incorporating any vitamins, dietary supplements or herbs, consult the doctor, dietitian or nurse to ensure that the products will not cause additional problems. If considering supplements, obtain a copy of "Thinking About Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A Guide for People With Cancer," a free book offered by the National Cancer Institute.