FEEDING TREATED FOR CANCER

During and after your treatment, balanced diet may be changed. Loss of appetite, overweight, weight loss are common responses that some of you will have to see.
Some treatments may require special treatment: it is with cortisone and its derivatives, which administered for prolonged periods must be accompanied by a low salt diet.

General Tips

Apart from special cases and beyond certain limitations, you can eat what you want. Your diet must remain varied and balanced, both quantitatively and qualitatively. → Watch your weight. Know that the appetite is often disturbed: these disorders vary from person to person and also a cure to another to adjust your eating schedule of infusions and your own tolerance. Continue to drink plenty not to dehydrate you.

If weight loss, promote food fortification and split the food intake. Increase calorie intake by eating more butter, cream, mayonnaise, yogurt, cheese, ice cream, jam, honey ... Emphasize foods high in protein (eggs, dairy products, meat and fish, cereals), which provide strength and energy while helping you keep your weight. If you skipped a meal, try to compensate at another time of day or the next. Do not be disturbed.

However, if this condition persists, tell your doctor who will prescribe, if deemed useful, nutritional supplements. Remember that cold foods and simple are often more appreciated than hot food or sauce. Note: Nutritional supplements are generally not fully reimbursed by Social Security as part of a treatment for cancer (Clinutren, Cubitan ...). Only Renutril is fully supported to date.

If instead, you have gained weight, as often with chemotherapy, try to regain your normal weight, but beware of schemes. Do not take the initiative yourself without talking to your doctor. Your body needs quality food to maintain its strength and ensure the fight against the disease. Weight gain is usually following treatment and transitional. Everything back to normal on discontinuation of treatment.

After surgery

Apart from the early post-operatively, only some interventions require adequate nutrition: • after removal of the stomach, you will be ready to take small meals, repeated in the day (5 to 6 meals per day) • after a colostomy (bag drifting colon contents to the skin): there is no food strictly forbidden, but avoid any constipation or diarrhea. In these cases, counseling and dietary precautions will be given in detail by the team. Constipating foods: rice, tapioca, cooked carrots, quince jelly. Food laxatives: whole milk, wholemeal bread, wholemeal, raw vegetables and fruits, spices. Foods providing gas: dried vegetables, melons, onions, soft drinks, cabbage, broccoli, salsify, grape ...

During radiotherapy and chemotherapy

Chemotherapy in general and radiotherapy of head and neck region often cause problems with sore mouth and throat making swallowing difficult and sometimes even food.

→ Some suggestions:

Foods to avoid

• Acid foods: lemon, grapefruit, orange, tomato pickles ...

• Dry Food: Bread, cakes, meat, chicken ...

• Food crunchy cereals, chips, fruit and raw vegetables, plain rice ...

• Drinks: beer, wine, alcohol

• Food too hot or too cold or spicy

Food Advisor

• Food neutral apple compote, fruit salad in syrup, pears, Dairy ... • minced meat or cooked in broth, custard pudding, biscuits soaked in milk ...

• Pasta or rice with gravy, pureed vegetables or fruit ...

• Water, milk, fruit juice, non-acid, soda "stale"

• Drink warm, slightly spicy foods. Some people like small jars for babies.

After radiotherapy, it is common that the mouth is dry and free of saliva. Your doctor will prescribe an artificial saliva. Drink plenty of water in small quantities and often, and rinse your mouth several times daily with a water solution of bicarbonate that you advise your doctor. Finally, fight against the canker sores and mucositis adopting impeccable oral hygiene.

Nausea and vomiting associated with radiotherapy of the chest, chest, and abdomen, these disorders can also be caused by chemotherapy. Sensitivity to odors can also be exacerbated and strengthen the feeling nauseated. Avoid then the body perfumes or perfumes. Emphasize power neutral and devoid of strong odors, again, split your meal. Choose dishes low in fat, little bit spicy or sweet. Foods warm or cold can also relieve you. But if you can not keep food you eat, you should ask your doctor to prescribe anti-nausea adapted.

Diarrhea or constipation are also frequent consequences or a radiation to the abdomen or chemotherapy, causing a disruption of digestion and absorption. The major risk of diarrhea is dehydration. You should therefore think to drink about two liters of water per day to compensate for water loss and potassium. Colas de-aerated are rich in potassium and therefore strongly recommended for diarrhea.

→ Some suggestions:

Foods to avoid • Fatty meats:

pork, lamb, sauce dishes

• Delicatessens

• Oily fish: salmon, mackerel, sardines, smoked fish

• Vegetables rich in fiber: beans, cabbage, spinach

• Legumes: peas, lentils ...

• Chips, crisps. •

Dried fruit: raisins, dates

• Fruit oilseeds: walnuts, almonds, peanuts

• Dairy: Avoid richest fat

Food Advisor

• Lean meats: beef, veal, chicken without skin, meat and fish grilled or boiled

• Fish meager: hake, sea bream, shrimp ...

• purees vegetables, carrots, zucchini ...

• Pasta and rice.

• Fruit peeled cooked in salads or compotes

• Prioritizing forms low in fat.

Constipation is often caused by the action of drugs: painkillers or anti-vomiting but also to changes in dietary consumption. Again hydration is essential: flat water or broth, juice of fruits such as prunes and a nice cold drink on waking can stimulate a bowel movement a little lazy. Prefer fiber foods cooked or raw, milk products, cream dessert. Associate the starchy green vegetables. In all cases drug treatment may be associated with dietary advice.