TOPIC:
Can’t Eat? Staying Strong During Your Cancer Fighting Journey
Let your oncologist or oncology nurse know right away if you are having any trouble eating. Do not wait until you are having severe problems. They will have suggestions or modifications to help you. Tell your Oncology Team what you are eating and how much you are eating or if you feel too ill to eat. Your oncologist needs this important information to help you through your treatments. You do not want to become weakened by not eating.
To help you eat better, check with your doctor to see if you can try these ideas:
Ask people to make your favorite foods for you. Ask them to portion the food into small, glass containers that you can freeze or refrigerate. Heat and eat only one small container at a time. (Do not heat your food in the microwave in plastic containers.)
If the sight of a plate of food is unpleasant, only look at very small quantities of food at a time. Do not look at large plates full of food when you are trying to eat. Try using a large plate and only putting a small amount of food on it at one time.
Do not look at what other people are eating. It is all right to eat by yourself if other people’s food makes you feel like not eating.
If you eat better when socializing, try eating with favorite friends or family.
Use sugar, salt, fresh or dried herbs and spices to make your food taste better. (Be sure to first check with your oncologist about your salt, sugar and herb use during treatment.)
Try to eat a little something every hour or two. Do not limit yourself to three meals a day. It may be better to eat a little food more often, rather than trying to eat an entire meal at one sitting.
If eating is difficult for you, eat what you can, when you can, and do not worry about what time it is. Eat what appeals to you at any time.
Let people know if certain food tastes, textures, or smells are unappealing to you or take away your appetite. Ask them not to prepare or eat those foods when you are there.
If you have mouth sores that are making you not want to eat, ask the Oncology Team to help you treat the mouth sores or throat soreness.
Move before eating. Take a walk or do a few stretches. This may help increase your appetite.
Eat high protein or high calories snacks if you are allowed to do so. Examples include: milk shakes, cheese, fruits, peanut butter, nuts, crackers and juices.
Avoid foods that will make you feel full but do not have good nutritional content such as diet soda, candy and heavy sweets. Eat these AFTER you eat something that will help you be stronger.
Avoid greasy, spicy, fried and heavy foods.
Do not fill up on liquids before you eat or while you are eating. Drink liquids AFTER you have eaten.
Check out this website for more help if you cannot eat:
http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/side-effects/cancer-and-chemobased-lack-of.aspx