Treatment changes appetite, taste and digestion. The goal during chemotherapy is simple: keep your weight and strength up, and keep infections away.
Principles
- Small, frequent meals — six small meals beat three large ones when appetite is poor.
- Protein at every meal — dal, paneer, eggs, curd, chicken, fish, soya. Protein rebuilds blood cells and tissue.
- Fluids — 2 to 3 litres a day unless your doctor limits fluids: water, coconut water, buttermilk, thin soups.
- Food safety — freshly cooked food, washed and peeled fruit, no raw salads or street food while counts are low.
Managing common problems
Nausea: dry, bland foods (khakhra, toast, poha), ginger, cold foods with less smell. Mouth sores: soft, non-spicy, lukewarm foods; avoid citrus. Taste changes: add lemon, herbs and mild spices; use plastic cutlery if food tastes metallic. Diarrhoea: banana, rice, curd, khichdi; avoid milk and fried food temporarily.
Every patient at Shichim Oncocare meets our dietitian. Learn about onco-nutrition.
Further reading: www.cancerresearch.org