Tips for Combating Common Dietary Problems in Cancer

Patients with advanced stage cancer often suffer from a number of problems which adversely affect their intake and digestion of food. Dietician Artika Datta has outlined some simple remedies to help deal with these distressing symptoms.

Nausea

• Try dry or salty foods
• Eat small, frequent meals
• Sip cool, fizzy drinks
• Try ginger flavoured food and drink
• Try cold foods
• Avoid highly spiced, rich or fatty foods
• Anti-emetics

Sore Mouth

• Avoid dry, rough or hard foods
• Avoid highly spiced, salty or acidic foods
• Have soft, mashed foods with sauce or gravy
• Drink plenty of nourishing fluids
• Cold foods and drinks can be soothing to a sore mouth
• Try adding crushed ice to drinks and eating ice cream or soft milk jellies.
• Ensure good oral hygiene
• Treat any infections

Altered Taste

• Eat foods that you like the taste of
• Sharp tasting foods can help
• Use pickles or chutneys
• Use different seasonings, experiment with herbs and spices
• Ensure good oral hygiene

Too Tired to Cook or Eat

• Be positive about what you do eat, every mouthful counts
• Remember that cold meals can be as nutritious as cooked meals
• Convenience foods are a useful standby and can be just as nourishing
• If you have a freezer, try to prepare food in advance and store it for when you are not feeling so well
• Accept offers of help with cooking and shopping from friends and family
• Try to make food and drink as nourishing as possible
• If you cannot face big meals, try to have smaller ‘ready to eat’ snacks and drinks on a regular basis

Dry Mouth

• Have frequent sips of drinks
• Sucking ice cubes or ice lollies may help to keep your mouth moist
• Keep foods moist with lots of sauces and gravies
• Some foods such as chocolate and pastry may stick to the roof of your mouth more
• Boiled sweets may help to keep your mouth fresh
• Artificial saliva solutions are available from your doctor if these are appropriate for you

Diarrhoea

• Drink plenty of fluid
• Eat small, frequent meals made from light foods – dairy produce, white bread, pasta or rice
• Avoid highly spiced or fatty foods and eat your meals slowly
• Anti diarrhoea medication

Constipation

• Have plenty of fibre in your diet
• Favourite natural remedies are syrup of figs, prunes and prune juice
• Aim to drink at least 2 litres a day
• Gentle exercise
• If the constipation is due to medicines that you are taking (such as painkillers or anti-sickness drugs) you will need to take laxatives

Difficulty in Chewing or Swallowing

• Soft or puree foods will be easier
• Adding sauces and gravies to every day foods may be enough to help
• If you need a puree consistency, blend every day foods using extra milk or creamy sauces to help make smoother consistency
• Puree different foods separately so that they can be tasted e.g. keep vegetables all separate