The Importance of Nutrition for Individuals Suffering from Cancer

Nutrition for cancer patients is extremely important. Individuals with cancer must eat enough foods which contain essential protein, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, and fat. They can feel better and remain stronger before, during, and after cancer treatment if they eat the proper foods.

Side effects of cancer treatments and the disease itself make eating difficult for cancer patients. Cancers, such as mesothelioma, may make eating difficult. Symptoms which interfere with eating include the following:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Anorexia
• Diarrhea
• Trouble swallowing
• Sores in the mouth
• Depression
• Pain
• Anxiety

Cancer patients lose the ability to eat enough food, and their bodies also lose the ability to absorb nutrients from food. Therefore, malnutrition can occur. Patients may become tired, weak, and their bodies may become unable to withstand cancer therapies and resist infection. For fighting infection, providing energy, and for healing in general, protein and calorie intake are vitally important.

Anorexia is the loss of appetite or loss of the desire to eat. Anorexia is common among cancer patients and a common cause for malnutrition. Nearly all cancer patients will develop anorexia once the cancer has grown and metastasized. Anorexia may occur early in the disease as well.

Cachexia is a wasting syndrome. It causes loss of weight, fat, and muscle, and weakness in cancer patients. Although cachexia occurs less frequently among breast cancer patients, it is commonly seen in patients with lung tumors, pancreatic cancer, or cancer of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Weight loss accompanies cachexia because fewer calories are consumed and more calories are being used.

Cancer cachexia and starvation are not the same. In starvation, a healthy person’s body adjusts by slowing the use of nutrients. Cancer patients’ bodies do not make this same adjustment.

While undergoing cancer treatment, the body is under attack, not just from the cancer, but also from treatments. Thus, it becomes more vital than ever for cancer patients to make sure they are getting the vitamins, minerals, and overall nutrition they need to stay strong in order to fight the disease.

Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy all increase the body’s need for protein. Everyone knows that red meats, poultry, and fish are excellent protein sources. The problem is that cancer patients have problems eating and tolerating these foods during treatment. Sheri Knecht, RD, (registered dietician) at the South Atlantic Division of the American Cancer Society, recommends that cancer patients eat protein-rich foods that are easily digested such as:

• Eggs—Eggs are an excellent source of protein, but also are an excellent source of B-complex vitamins, vitamin D, and vitamin E.
• Soy products
• Almond or peanut butter—Peanut butter and crackers are an easy, no-preparation snack. This snack not only is loaded with nutrients; it may also be easier to keep down.
• Nuts—Nuts are another excellent source of B-complex vitamins, vitamin E, and protein.
• Milk, yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese and other dairy products—Snack on mild cheeses, yogurt, or other cold snacks. Heated foods and the smell of heated foods often trigger nausea. Chilled chicken salad or egg salad may be easier to eat without the onset of accompanying nausea.
• Beans and other legumes—Beans and other legumes provide large amounts of B vitamins and at the same time help meet the cancer patient’s need for protein.
• Peach and pear juice and applesauce—Due to chemotherapy-induced mouth sores, drinking citrus juices or eating citrus fruits may cause pain. Cancer patients should avoid citrus fruits and juices and try peach and pear juice and applesauce instead as sources of vitamin C.
• Green, leafy vegetables—Green vegetables contain vitamins and minerals such as iron. They should be thoroughly washed, however, because the cancer patients’ immune systems may be severely compromised and susceptible to contaminants found on unwashed leafy vegetables.

Dieticians say it is best to get protein from natural sources, as is the case with any nutrient. But if getting protein from natural food sources is not possible, cancer patients can add protein powders, soy powder or whey powder, for example, to their diets. They may also try powdered milk. These can be mixed in with soft foods such as fruit smoothies or mashed potatoes.

Protein consumption is not just important during cancer treatment; it also should take priority before treatment or prior to cancer surgery. Patients need to be as healthy as possible before they have surgery. During surgery, the body is under extreme stress. It is important to go into treatment or surgery having an adequate amount of protein in the body.

Too much weight loss among cancer patients can affect treatments and can even force physicians to cease treatments altogether. Patients need to be cautious in regards to weight because metabolism speeds up while the body is undergoing cancer treatment. And though the body needs more food, cancer patients are too sick to eat more.

According to the American Cancer Society, symptoms of cancer and associated cancer treatments are often the result of dehydration. Eight glasses of water per day can help to protect the kidneys which are particularly vulnerable during chemotherapy because of the strength and amount of drugs taken. Diarrhea and vomiting also cause loss of fluids which must be replenished.

Many experts recommend adding nutritional supplement drinks to meals if cancer patients are having trouble eating enough at mealtimes. Supplements should contain a variety of vitamins and minerals. They should be sufficiently fortified to provide at least 25 percent of the vitamins needed daily.

Taking in enough calories in order to maintain strength is of utmost importance during cancer treatment. When cancer treatments take away the appetite is when getting adequate nutrition and calories is more important than ever. Patients can try to complete a meal, and then when they have done the best they can, they can turn to a supplement drink to augment the protein, calories, and other nutrients they need. Patients, however, should never rely solely on supplement drinks to replace meals. The term supplement is used for a reason.