Healthy Living
Nutrition & Related Topics
Nutrition Overview

Good nutrition will:

• help prevent infections.
• help maintain and rebuild muscles and damaged tissues.
• provide you with energy helping you to maintain a sense of well being.

It can be a challenge to maintain good nutrition due to the side effects of the medications that may include nausea/vomiting, taste changes (dysgeusia), sore mouth and throat (mucositis), anorexia (lack of appetite), and diarrhea. The dietician will help you to meet your nutrient requirements by suggesting foods you can tolerate or offering nutritional supplements if needed.

Decreased food intake and increased need for protein and calories can make it very easy for patients to lose weight and have a decreased feeling of well-being during the treatment process. It is important to "build yourself up":  

1. Eat a balanced diet with a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, breads, pasta, meats and dairy products.
2. Include foods high in protein at each meal such as meat, fish, eggs, and cheese.
3. If you are a vegetarian, talk to the dietician for more protein options.

It is a good idea to log what you eat daily and then run it by the dietitian to ensure there isn't any food that many interact with your treatments. For example, no grapefruit juices or grapefruit flavoured foods as it may effect some medications.

It is not necessary to prepare a separate meal from the rest of the family.

^ Top