People With Cancer

Nov 11, 2024

3 min read

When a person has cancer their diets may need to include extra protein and calories in

order to keep their strength up during treatment. Which can become difficult as side effects from cancer treatment can lead to eating problems.

People with Cancer may report these common eating problems

- Appetite loss

- Changes in sense of taste or smell

- Constipation

- Diarrhea

- Dry mouth

- Lactose intolerance

- Nausea

- Sore mouth

- Sore throat and trouble swallowing

- Vomiting

- Weight gain

- Weight loss

If they report these problems to you as a Physiotherapist, it is best practice to refer them onto a dietician. The dietician will then discuss solutions and alternatives to help combat these issues.

On this website we do have basic infographics with a couple of tips that can be given to people with cancer to manage these common eating problems but this is just the first step to solving the problem, always refer on to a dietician to ensure the problem is appropriately addressed.

Physiotherapists should be promoting daily light exercise for people with cancer. As exercise has been shown to help people with cancer feel better and help with some these problems such as appetite loss.

Below is basic nutritional Information we should be aware of and can provide to people with cancer.

Basic Tips That can Be Provided to People with Cancer to Help Them Eat Well

Tips to Help Manage the Ups and Downs of Eating While on Treatment

Avoiding Food borne illness

Vitamins and Supplements

Infographics

Basic Tips That can Be Provided to People with Cancer to Help Them Eat Well

Fill the refrigerator, cupboard, and freezer with healthy foods (ensure to include items they can eat even when feeling sick)

Stock up on foods that need little or no cooking, such as healthy frozen dinners and ready to eat cooked foods

Meal prepping and freeze ahead of time

Ask friends and/or family to help shop and cook during treatment

Create a grocery list of items they usually buy so it is easier for friends and family to shop for them

Tips to Help Manage the Ups and Downs of Eating While on Treatment

- Eat plenty of protein and calories when able, helps to strengthen and rebuild healthy tissues harmed by cancer treatment

Drink plenty of liquids; average adults should be having 8-12 cups of liquid a day

Eat bigger meals when they have a bigger appetite and felling their best

Drink liquid meal replacement when appetite is low

it’s okay to feel like they can’t eat a lot of different foods, better eat the same thing over and over again rather than not eating at all

If they cannot eat at all on some days, this is okay. It’s best to spend this time to find other ways to feel better and start eating when they can rather than worrying about not the fact they are unable to eat. If they cannot eat for more than 2 days than they need to speak to their doctor or dietitian

Avoiding Food borne illness

Some people undergoing cancer treatments may have reduced immune cells on blood test (neutropaenic). These people can be more prone to food borne illness. Therefore, special care may be taken to reduce this risk of food borne illness. If a person is neutropaenic then they should try to avoid:

produce that is not easily scrubbed in water
Raw nuts, fish or shellfish e.g. sushi and raw oysters
Using foods, condiments, or drinks that are past their freshness date
Buffets, salad bars or self service restauran
Foods that show signs of mold including moldy cheese e.g. bleu cheese
Leaving meat, chicken, turkey or fish sitting out to thaw

Vitamins and Supplements

If a person with cancer asks about taking vitamins or supplements to help fight their cancer, tell them that it is best to discuss this with their doctor or Dietitian. As sometimes these produces can cause problems by changing how they cancer treatment works.