FIVE NUTRITION TIPS FOR CANCER PATIENTS

For cancer patients, loss of appetite is the most common problem. It is due to the development of tumors, which makes you difficult to chew, swallow and decreases the absorption of nutrient. In addition, the cancer treatment causes some side effects such as dry mouth, change in taste, diarrhea or nausea. Moreover, there are some myths that cancer patients need to avoid eating some certain foods, because they believe that the more nutrients they take in, the more developed the cancer cells are, and the more severe their disease will become. 

 

 

 

+ Snack on sugar-free hard candy or chewing gum to stimulate salivary glands.  

 

+ Sip on water regularly throughout the day to keep your mouth moist. 

 

+ Avoid fruit juices or soft drinks that are high in sugar or acid because they can cause tooth decay.

 

+ Avoid caffeine beverages such as coffee, tea, energy drinks because they can make the mouth drier.

 

+ Rinse mouth with clean water regularly throughout the day and before eating.

 

+ Eat soft, creamy, moist food at the ambient or cool temperature.

 

+ Avoid eating the hard or dry foods (such as toasted bread  or crispy cookies).

 

 

+ Avoid eating the sour foods (such as orange, lemon) or salty foods (such as pickled foods).

 

+ Avoid eating the hard and dry foods such as crispy cookies, breads, snacks, seeds. 

 

+ Avoid eating the spicy foods that irritate the oral mucosa such as chili, curry spices, pepper, etc.

 

+ Eat cold, cool or warm foods. 

 

+ Eat soft, creamy or liquid foods (such as soups, mashed potatoes). 

 

+ Avoid alcohol-based mouthwashes. 

 

+ Avoid alcohol, soft or caffeine beverages. 

 

 

+ Eat 5 to 6 small meals a day instead of 3 large meals. 

 

+ Eat dry foods such as cookies, crackers, breads when waking up in the morning and frequently throughout the day. 

 

+ Use the cooking methods which produce faint smell such as boiling, steaming, making soup and using less spices. 

 

+ Eat cool, warm instead of hot foods.

 

+ Avoid too sweet or fatty foods.

 

+ Avoid lying down within 1 hour after eating, try to sit in a chair with headrest.

 

+ Take 50ml of water every 15 to 20 minutes to avoid dehydration. 

 

 

+ Increase high-fiber foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains. 

 

+ Have a balanced, healthy and scheduled diet.

 

+ Increase physical activities. 

 

+ Drink at least 2 liters of water everyday.

 

- If patients have diarrhea:
 

+ Drink more water/beverages (no carbonated beverages)

 

+ Eat 5 to 6 small meals a day. 

 

+ Avoid too sweet or fatty foods.

 

+ Increase high-fiber and potassium-rich foods (such as fruit juice). 

 

+ Avoid chewing gums, candies contain sugar alcohols (such as sorbitol, mannitol, or xylitol).

 

+ Avoid high-lactose foods (such as milk) because the condition of digestive disorder decrease the amount of lactase in our body temporarily and makes diarrhea worse. Yogurt or cheese can be alternatives.

At the Nutrition Department of the American International Hospital (AIH), body composition scanning will help to identify the cancer-caused cachexia (wasting syndrome). Based on this result, the nutritionists will provide patients with personalized nutrition plan. Especially, for patients undergo surgery, AIH has ERAS program (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) to standardize the care pathway before, during and after surgery. It means that patients will receive a specific diet to make sure they are in the best physical condition before the surgery. The diet is designed and adjusted in according to each different phase of patients’ treatment to facilitate recovery, minimize complications, reduce length of stay in hospital and treatment cost for patients. After being discharged, patients are still followed up, taken care of and provided with nutrition tips until they are fully recovered. 

 

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🌏 Website: www.aih.com.vn 

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