Food & Radiation Cancer Treatment

Radiation therapy can not only make cancer patients feel weakened through its own direct action, but also rob them of the nutrients they need for strength by making eating a chore. Cancer patients must find a way to nourish themselves even when eating or drinking feels uncomfortable. Sensible dining strategies and food choices can help prevent or minimize the nausea and bowel irregularity that often accompany radiation therapy.

Challenges

• Patients may struggle with nausea during a course of radiation treatments, making it difficult for them to keep food down or even think of eating.They may also suffer damage to the mucous membranes of the mouth, throat or lower digestive and excretory systems, making food a potential irritant. The salivary glands may cease to function properly during the treatment period, making food difficult to taste or chew and eating a painful experience.

Recommendations

• Patients must hydrate themselves as thoroughly as possible, even if they must turn to intravenous hydration to get the fluids they need to survive and heal. To combat nausea, patients should eat several small meals daily, chewing and swallowing slowly to avoid any unnecessary work for the digestive system. Salty foods and cold liquids can also tame queasiness, and if all else fails, anti-nausea medications can help. Patients generally get better at holding food down during the course of the radiation therapy. Soft foods low in dietary fiber will minimized the irritation to sensitive mucous membranes.

Contraindications

• Patients undergoing radiation therapy must avoid greasy foods because of the extra burden they place on the digestive system. Very sweet or aromatic foods may prompt an attack of nausea. High-fiber foods may or may not cause bowel inflammation, so patients may wish to simply avoid them for the course of the treatments.

Additional Strategies

• Any strategies that can make food more palatable to cancer patients will improve their chances of getting the proper nutrition during radiation therapy. Chilled foods, for instance, will induce nausea less readily than hot foods because they do not radiate odors through rising steam, according to the Oral Cancer Foundation. Patients suffering from dry mouth may find that lemon-flavored dishes help to stimulate their salivary glands. Some radiation recipients will become sensitive to metallic tastes from silverware, in which case plastic tableware may help them get more enjoyment from eating.

Foods

• Since red meat may prove difficult to digest, patients may get their protein from fish, chicken or dairy products instead. The University of Rochester Medical Center recommends foods such as oatmeal, canned peaches or other fruits, boiled potatoes or noodles, rice, broiled or baked chicken without the skin, clear liquids, carbonated drinks and ice chips for easily digested nourishment. It also recommends eggs, yogurt, white bread and non-chunky peanut butter for patients troubled by diarrhea.