General Nutrition Tips for Cancer Treatment Symptoms

Below are some general tips for coping with cancer treatment symptoms and side effects. For more detailed information on each specific side effect, be sure to see our Nutrition Symptom Support area in the Daily Management section of Caring4Cancer.com

• Unless your doctor, nurse, or dietitian has told you to avoid specific foods as part of your treatment, no foods are off limits. Eat whatever works best for you at the time.
• Be flexible. Foods that you normally enjoy may not taste or feel good during treatment. Foods that normally don't appeal to you might taste better during treatment. Try new things to help yourself eat better.
• Avoid tobacco, caffeine, and alcohol as much as possible. These substances can further irritate an alreadysensitive digestive tract.
• Don't wait for hunger. Set times to eat, such as every one-half to one hour. Then be sure to have at least one or two bites of food at these times. Every bite counts.
• Keep snacks handy. Hunger may only last a few minutes.
• Don't go for more than a couple of hours without eating. The less you eat, the less you will feel like eating. Having little bits of food often will help keep your appetite and energy levels up.
• Avoid stress at mealtimes. Regular, sit down meals may not work for you right now, so don't force yourself to do this if it doesn't work for you. Instead, you may need to nibble throughout the day.
• Drink most of your liquids between meals. Drinkenough to swallow your food comfortably, but avoid “loading” up on fluids like water and coffee with your meals. These can make you feel full faster making it tough to eat enough food.
• Change your expectations. Think of food as fuel. During treatment, it may be difficult to get enjoyment out of eating. Instead of looking to food for enjoyment, it is important that you see food as an important part ofthe path to healing both during and after your treatment.
• For most people, the lack of interest in food is temporary. Keep in mind that after you have completed treatment, you will begin to enjoy food more again.