Eating Hints: Before, during, and after Cancer Treatment

People with Cancer Have Different Diet Needs

Eating Hints is written for you—someone who is about to get, or is now getting, cancer treatment. Your family, friends, and others close to you may also want to read this book. You can use this book before, during, and after cancer treatment. It has hints about common types of eating problems, along with ways to manage them.

This book covers:

• What you should know about cancer treatment, eating well, and eating problems
• How feelings can affect appetite
• Hints to manage eating problems
• How to eat well after cancer treatment ends
• Foods and drinks to help with certain eating problems
• Ways to learn more

People with cancer often need to follow diets that are different from what you think of as healthy. For most people, a healthy diet includes:

• Lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain breads and cereals
• Modest amounts of meat and milk products
• Small amounts of fat, sugar, alcohol, and salt

When you have cancer, though, you need to eat to keep up your strength to deal with the side effects of treatment. When you are healthy, eating enough food is often not a problem. But when you are dealing with cancer and treatment, this can be a real challenge. When you have cancer, you may need extra protein and calories. At times, your diet may need to include extra milk, cheese, and eggs. If you have trouble chewing and swallowing, you may need to add sauces and gravies. Sometimes, you may need to eat low-fiber foods instead of those with high fiber. A dietitian can help you with any diet changes you may need to make.