Eating well is essential for good health; even more so for those who are battling a debilitating disease such as cancer. The right nutrients provide your body with the strength it needs to withstand treatments and minimize weight loss, which can affect its response to radiation or the drugs prescribed. Malnutrition and weight loss can weaken your immune system, making you vulnerable to disease-causing bugs— a common cause of death from cancer. Here, we’ve uncovered how food can play a big role in helping you win the fight against cancer.
Cancer-induced weight loss
About 80% of cancer patients lose weight during the course of their illness. This weight loss can be due to several reasons, including mechanical obstruction (for example eating difficulties caused by a tumor in the head or neck), as well as physical and psychological side effects from treatment. These are often attributed to a complex range of metabolic changes— cancer forces your body to burn more calories than usual, leaving you feeling weak, lacking in appetite, experiencing a loss of muscles mass, and subsequently, weight loss.
The effects of cancer treatment depend on the location and the extensiveness of the cancer. Radiation has a more ‘localized’ effect (radiation treatment on the head and neck areas can result in side effects such as ulceration of the mouth, difficulty and pain while swallowing, and soreness of the throat and lining of the mouth. All these side effects contribute to a poor appetite and an inability to eat well, says consultant clinical oncologist and radiotherapist Dr. Matin Mellor Abdullah. Chemotherapy on the other hand, can result in nausea and vomiting, bloating, water retention, cramps and diarrhea. "Patients often end up feeling tired and beaten, so it’s little wonder that food is the last thing on their mind," he explains.
Nutrition support Cancer patients need to strengthen their immune system from the time of diagnosis in preparation for treatment, especially if they are scheduled for surgery, says Sophia Wong, a registered dietitian. "After surgery, they are put on a high-calorie and high-protein diet to help with recovery before starting on other treatments, such as radiation and chemotherapy. Cancer treatment can also affect the breakdown and absorption of nutrients. "If they find solid food difficult to handle, I start them off on a liquid diet, then slowly progress to semi-solid and solid foods," Wong says. While nutrition is a very important component in the fight against cancer, just getting a patient to eat can be a challenge, says Dr. Mellor. "Treatment can alter a patient’s tastebuds. For example, sweet things might taste sour, and foods that are extreme in taste can be difficult for them to take," he says. If you’re undergoing treatment, now’s not the time to worry about eating ‘healthy’, says Dr. Mellor, adding that it’s best to focus on taking in enough calories and nutrients. "A patient who has built up strength and resistance will be in a more stable condition, and only then can we slowly help her revert to a more balanced diet," he says.
Eating to beat cancer can be very different from eating to sustain a healthy body. "Although vegetables and fruits are an important part of a healthy, balanced diet, they might not be suitable for cancer patients who have trouble eating and digesting food," says dietitian Sophia Wong. "Cereals and other high-fiber foods produce gas, leading to bloating and further discomfort. This can discourage patients from eating," she adds.
Eat to build strength
The severity of cancer treatment-related side effects varies between individuals. Here’s what you can do nourish your body during this crucial period.
The severity of cancer treatment-related side effects varies between individuals. Here’s what you can do nourish your body during this crucial period.
- Make every mouthful count
Even if swallowing water is painful, try to make sure every single bite is packed with nutrients. Opt for easy-to-swallow foods. Ice-cream, for example, can help soothe your throat, and is chock-full of energy and nutrients. - Drink plenty of fluids
Keep your mouth moist and try to drink not only water, but beverages such as milk. - Stay away from pungent foods
Put off by foods that have a strong smell or taste? Avoid them altogether. - Eat what you want
Eat whatever tastes good to you. Foods that are visually attractive may help increase your appetite. - Give yourself a break
Try not to give yourself a hard time on days you can’t eat. Break your meals into smaller ones, or snack to take the pressure off eating. - Take a supplement
Not getting the nutrients you need from your meals? Top them up with supplements like ProSure, Ensure and Enercal. However, strive to have regular meals whenever you can.
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