Chemotherapy can cause nausea, mouth sores, throat irritation, diarrhea or constipation. Some people may not experience any side effects, while others may experience one or more. There is no one food that is best for everyone to eat. The most important dietary goal is to maintain calorie and nutrient requirements. Generally, any food that stimulates a person's appetites is OK to eat. When chemotherapy side effects make eating difficult, special diets may make eating easier.
Appetite Loss
Make every calorie count when you have little or no appetite. When you only eat a little bit of food, choose high calorie foods with a high protein content. Lean cuts of meat and peanut butter are good choices.
Mouth Sores and Throat Irritation
Eat soft foods when mouth sores and throat irritation are making eating and swallowing difficult. Stay away from citrus foods which could burn mouth sores. Apple sauce, ice cream and cottage cheese are examples of soft foods that are easy to swallow.
Constipation
Combat constipation by eating high-fiber foods to bulk up stool. Eat whole-grain bread, brown rice and bran muffins. Sprinkle bran over cereals or add it to smoothies and milk shakes.
Diarrhea and Nausea
Choose easy-to-digest foods when diarrhea or nausea is a problem. Foods with simple carbohydrates such as white rice are easy to digest. Stay away from spicy foods or foods that are high in fat, which are hard to digest. Eat things like oatmeal, white rice, mashed potatoes and bananas. If the smell of food makes you nauseous, eat foods at room temperature to reduce smell. Warm food produces more of an odor than cool food does.
Meal-Replacement Drinks
Drink meal-replacement drinks when you are not getting enough calories or variety in your diet. Meal-replacement drinks are high in calories and contain a lot of nutrients. The drinks come in various flavors to meet different appetites.
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