nutrition during chemotherapy
 

Dear ladies,
I am scheduled for chemotherapy in one week (TCH+P)
I usually don't eat meat, eat l lot of raw vegetables in salads and smoothies.
Are there any special recommendations for diet during the chemo period?
Is meat desirable as protein source or not desirable because it's difficult to digest?
what to eat to keep the digestive track calm, help boost immunity and help keep the blood counts up?
also, people have told me to expect the sense of smell and taste to change - any suggestions what to do about it?
are there any foods to avoid (i've been told tofu)?
And drinking fluids - good (to flush the system) or bad (need to keep chemo working inside)?
thank you and happy Hanukkah and Thanksgiving!

Re: nutrition during chemotherapy
 

I was told to stay away from salads and fruits with thin skins, you can't guarantee how clean they are and if you get a bug from them its harder for your body to fight it during chemo since your immune system is weak.

Re: nutrition during chemotherapy
 

You can get protein from beans and from peanut butter as well as other nuts and protein drinks. Beets are good for platelets, spinach, kale good for iron. Need to have about 75 grams of protein if you are eating 2000 calories a day. This is based on 170 weight. Onc dietician can give you amounts based on your weight.
Goji berries are good to help fight cancer as well. I found with lack of taste avocados went down easily, so did cold fruit pops and Greek yogurt. Cold soft stuff helped with lack of taste and mouth sores. Stay away from lemon/lime and acidic stuff as they seemed to bring on the mouth sores more.
Best of luck. I just finished my 2nd TCPH therapy today.
Also drink, drink, drink away!!!!!

Re: nutrition during chemotherapy
 

Also, seeds have a lot of protein. They may be tiny but they are powerful! Sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds are full of protein. Sunflower butter is delicious.

Re: nutrition during chemotherapy
 

Hi -
it is OK to eat fresh carefully washed salad. It is salad bars where things sit around that are a problem. You take the same precautions you would in pregnancy.
Avoid the following:
Soft white cheeses eg. Ricotta, brie, camembert, blue vein and fetta
Pate
Unpasturised dairy products
Cold meats
Dried/fermented sausages
Raw seafoods eg. Oysters, sashimi
Smoked seafood (canned is okay)
Pre packed and prepared salads
Soft serve ice-cream
Smorgasbords

Hot freshly made takeaway is fine.

Lean meat is good to have because of its nutritional punch, but a balanced vegetarian diet is fine too.

If you've been vegetarian for a while you'll know how to mix your protein sources at the one meal (eg nuts and grain, or pulses and grain). Eggs and dairy are good if you aren't vegan. You will need more protein than usual to help repair the body.

I strongly suggest you go to a dietician who knows about chemo patients, if you are vegetarian or vegan as you may need supplements such as iron and Vit B12 supplementation because chemo pounds your blood cells,. There is no vegetarian source of Vit B12 - but it can be made by bacteria and this is used to enrich some cereal products. Also your doctor can give a B12 injection and iron tablets.

Most other essentials are easily available in a vegetarian diet. If you have a very low fat diet, you may need supplementation of fat soluble vitamins. There is a special nutrition forum on this site, too.

You can use the search function on this site to find lots of information about mouth care and mouth washes.

I found carbohydrates tasted like cardboard, but often found once I started eating, and distracted myself by reading, then I'd find I'd finished a meal without realizing it. Soft food and cold foods were a help when my mouth was sore. Some people find soups very helpful.

Also ask for help from friends and family if you get too tired to prepare food. Just let them know what works for you.

I wish you all the best. You'll get through it.

Aussie Girl

Re: nutrition during chemotherapy