Nutrition is an important part of cancer treatment. Eating the right kind of food can help you feel better and stay stronger. The following points will give you a better understanding of the importance of various food items that should be consumed during the treatment. It will help you and your loved ones cope with the side effects of the treatment which might affect how well you can eat.

IMPORTANCE OF GOOD NUTRITION

The nutrient needs vary from person to person. Eating well while you are being treated for cancer might help you:

The nutrient needs vary from person to person. Eating well while you are being treated for cancer might help you:
• Feel better.
• Keep up your strength and energy.
• Maintain your weight and your body’s store of nutrients.
• Better tolerate treatment-related side effects.
• Lower your risk of infection.
• Heal and recover faster.

Eating well means eating a variety of food to provide all the nutrients body need to fight cancer.

IMPORTANCE OF GOOD NUTRITION

Physical activity has many benefits. It helps you maintain muscle mass, strength, stamina, and bone strength. It can help reduce depression, stress, fatigue, nausea, and constipation. It can also improve the appetite.

MANAGING NUTRITION DURING CANCER AND TREATMENT

• During cancer treatment you might need to change your diet to help build up your strength and withstand the effects of the cancer and its treatment.
• The body uses calories and proteins for energy to support organ function muscle repair and daily activity.
• Total calories and protein needs increases during cancer and it is treatment and hence efforts are made to meet it with food and beverages.

CHEMOTHERAPY AND ITS SIDE EFFECTS

Chemotherapy basically means giving anti cancer medication. These medications are usually given by mouth or by injections. Chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells in the body. Since all medicines attack cancer cells in a different manner, a combination of medicines is often given to enhance the effectiveness of the treatment. When more than one anti cancer drugs is given, it is called as combination chemotherapy. Chemotherapy can be used alone or along with radiotherapy and surgery. All of these treatment kill cancer cells, but in this process healthy cell are also damaged, this damage causes the side effects such as:

• Loss of appetite
• Dore mouth or throat
• Dry mouth
• Change in taste or mouth
• Nausea & Vomiting
• Diarrhea, constipation
• Fatigue , depression

“You might or might not” – have any of these side effects.

Many other factors include – Type of cancer and the body part affected
– Type and length of treatment,
– Dose of treatment

BEFORE CHEMO
The goal is to boost your health and stamina.

DURING CHEMO
The goal is to manage side effects and maintain stamina.

AFTER CHEMO
The goal is to eat to regain your stamina.

FOOD SAFETY TIPS: Food safety is a special concern to cancer patients.

Recommendations :

• Wash hands thoroughly before eating
• Wash hands before food handling and preparation
• Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water
• Handle raw meats separately with care and cook them thoroughly
• Drink safe potable water
• Check expiry and manufacturing dates on foods
• Consume food prepared with two hours of cooking
• Keep hot food hot and cold foods cold (temperature)
• Avoidance:
• Avoid raw and under cooked meats and eggs
• Avoid fruits and vegetables which have cuts and bruises on it
• Avoid cut fruits and salads if eating out

TIPS TO INCREASE CALORIES AND PROTEIN

Calorie and Protein needs frequently increase in the setting of cancer and cancer treatment. Boosting these nutrients is a challenge especially when the side effects are present. Below mentioned are a few tips which can help:

• Plan the menu in advance so that the items are already available and hence no compromise
• Choose high calorie drinks such as whole milk and its products like shakes, yoghurt cheese etc, 100% juice.
• Eat more fat as it provides dense calories. Include preparations like halwa, tikki, ladoo, butter or ghee on roti/rice, parantha etc
• Fruit can be added to shakes, yoghurts, creams, custards to increase the calories and enhance taste
• Include starchy foods like potatoes, arbi and sweet potatoes to increase calories
• Choose high protein foods such as paneer, tofu, eggs, cheese, fish, poultry and beans.
• Add soya, chana and/or bran to aata to increase the protein and fibre content
• To increase protein intake see to it that each meal and snack has a protein serving alongwith it eg. Snacks like cheela, dhokla, khandvi, etc
• Add creams to soups
• Add oral nutrition supplements if needed such as protein powders and bars
• Refer to cook books

(Dr. Kajal Pandya Yeptho has an experience of more than 22 years in teaching, researching and practicing at various institutes, clinics and hospitals. She is currently the head of the Department of Nutrition & Dietetics at Medanta- The Medicity, since 2011 with a robust team of dieticians. She is a certified IYCF counselor, Diabetes Educator & Master Trainer, PG Dip in Quality Mgt of Hospitals & HCO. As a nutrition expert, she is a Columnist and a Subject Matter Specialist to various magazines and TV channels. Dr. Kajal Pandya Yeptho believes in “Health is Wealth” and advocates that “Let food be your medicine and not medicine your food”.)