Source: Pond 5
A common side effect of cancer and cancer treatment is loss of appetite. Even though there are now medications to ease some side effects, for various reasons, it can still be difficult to eat.
Registered dietitian Karen Schilling says, “It’s vitally important to eat well during treatment, even when you don’t feel like it. Not eating enough calories and protein can lead to weight loss, weakness, and fatigue.”
Karen is an oncology dietitian at the Maine Medical Center Cancer Institute. Thanks to a grant from Hannaford Supermarkets, Karen is presenting a monthly nutrition program at the Cancer Community Center in South Portland, Maine.
It’s called Overcoming Obstacles to Eating and sessions will alternate between two topics:
- Nutrition and Treatment: Explore specific strategies for managing the nutrition challenges while undergoing cancer treatment.
- Nutrition Basics: Learn nutrition basics and explore what diet is right for you.
The program will be held the fourth Tuesday of every month from 10:30 to noon at the Cancer Community Center, 778 Main Street, South Portland, Maine. (Next session is Tuesday, March 28. The focus will be Nutrition Basics.)
For more information and to register, here’s the link to the online calendar or you can call (207) 774-2200.
I know that not everyone who might benefit from the program (which includes patients and family and caregivers) will be able to attend, so I asked Karen for advice on managing some common side effects of cancer treatments — nausea and mouth sores.
Tips for managing nausea
- Follow the recommendations of your doctors for taking anti-nausea medication
- Start with something solid like toast or crackers
- Eat smaller amounts more often during the day instead of large meals
- Sip on water, broth, or diluted juices throughout the day
- Eat cooler foods that may have a less strong smell
- Create a restful setting to eat in and sit upright
- Some people find ginger helpful. Try ginger tea, ginger chews, or ginger ale
What to eat when you have nausea
- Dry foods like crackers or toast
- Popsicles or fruit ices
- Cold sandwiches
- Soft cooked eggs – boiled or poached
- White rice or plain pasta
- Muffins
- Potatoes
- Canned fruits
Tips for managing sore mouth or mouth sores
- Add sauces and gravies to foods
- Avoid alcohol based mouthwashes
- Avoid rough or coarse foods
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Avoid food that is too hot or too cold
- Avoid spicy foods
What to eat when you have a sore mouth or mouth sores
- Soups and stews
- Protein shakes made with yogurt of ice cream
- Custards and puddings
- Applesauce
- Plain pasta with olive oil or butter
- Meatloaf
- Macaroni and cheese
- Yogurt
- Mashed potatoes and gravy
Cancer Community Center
The Cancer Community Center is a wonderful place that offers a robust array of programs and resources for people with cancer and their families. Every single thing they offer is free, including Overcoming Obstacles to Eating.
Mission Services Director Molly Stewart says, “Lack of good nutrition can impact a cancer patient’s treatment plan and their body’s ability to heal. Knowing this, we have created a program that gives cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers knowledge and skills to help them deal with cancer-related side effects that can make it hard to maintain a healthy diet.”
For a look at all of the services it provides, visit the Cancer Community Center website.
Resource List
If you’re unable to attend the upcoming program and would like more nutrition tips, Karen recommended these resources:
Academy of Dietetics and Nutrition Current information on a wide range of nutrition topics
American Cancer Society Information on specific cancer, treatments, and side effects.
American Institute for Cancer Research Current information on diet, physical activity, and cancer. Good recipes for moving toward a plant-based diet.
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Information on herbal supplements and cancer as well as general information on various cancers.
National Cancer Institute In-depth information on cancer diagnosis, treatment, and supportive care.
Oncology Nutrition Dietetic practice group A subgroup of the Academy of Dietetics and Nutrition focusing on oncology. A directory of certified oncology dietitians is available here.
Your Cancer Game Plan This site has recipes and tips for patients undergoing treatment for cancer – inspired by football player Jim Kelly’s experience with head and neck cancer.
If you have a nutrition question that wasn’t addressed in this post, send it to me by email or in the comment box below and I’ll pass it along to Karen and the Cancer Community Center.
This is some useful information. Stay healthy all.
You’re suggesting empty calories — crackers, toast, popsicles, applesauce, white rice/pasta, muffins, potatoes, canned fruits — for cancer patients? Reducing carbohydrate intake to reduce glycemic excursions/glycemic load would be much more helpful.
Just a few alternative, nutrient-rich suggestions — homemade ice cream (heavy cream, egg yolks and sucralose/stevia), homemade soup (substitute cauliflower for potatoes and chopped/shredded cabbage noodles, stir-fry (protein w/ broccoli, carrots, celery, onion, green and colored bell peppers — skip the rice), meat, cheese and spring green roll-ups, full-fat Greek yogurt w/ berries and a splash of sugar-free vanilla syrup (Torani, DaVinci, Monin, etc. can be ordered online at a fraction of local store prices).
Preparing meals in large batches and freezing them is always wise but even more important for those with a limited energy strength and energy. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Friends and neighbors can grocery shop, prepare meals for the freezer, etc. If you don’t have folks nearby, contact a local church or community organisation.
Regarding food in hospitals. I do not believe a cancer patient should ever be given a meal of; one ice cream scoop of fake potatoe flakes & powdered egg with one bboot juice (first ingredient listed is liquid sugar!) I have talked to the hospital nutrition and even head of ethics. Where do all our dollars go to raise money for cancer research when hospitals dont even have a cancer diet. A real pototo would have been much better! Nutrition plays a huge role in curing cancer! As to the success rate of cannabis curing cancer there is a lot of evidence if you look. I’m not the only one. I watched 4 loved ones die due to side effects of chemo! Documented! The more research I do into chemo and radiation the more I am against it. Watch Ty Bollinger’s “The Truth About Cancer” It’s available on utube and facebook. Chemo and radiation stimulate stem cells to move elsewhere and the cancer then suddenly turns up elsewhere. I am happy to be free of cancer and I did it without nasty chemo. There iz more than ample real research that shows cannabis cures cancer. Tomoxifin is on the top 10 most carcinogenic chemicals on the toxic substances list yet we give it to breast cancer patients! Then we wonder why it spreads!? Organic fruit and veggies really doesn’t cost more! You jusf need to look around at local gardens and farmer markets. I look at the shelf life of processed foods and if a producf stays good for a year, I think it takes a year off your life. Fresh food doesn’t last that long. It might be cheaper but is it worth the health issues that come with? It takes practice and time but doesn’t have to be more expensive! In fact I spend less on whole natural food than I ever did on processed prepackaged food! My health is worth it! Rick Simpson Cannabis oil (THS-CBD) also allowed me to eliminate all narcotics and other pharmaceuticals! Let Stop Cancer with Rick Simpson Cannabis Oil.. Save life’s by sharing on all social network as God will bless you as you share this information that will give every cancer patient’s a hope for a new Life which they I lost total hope of.
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