Cancer itself and cancer treatment can place extra demands on the body. Sometimes the side effects of cancer treatment such as reduced appetite, dry mouth, vomiting, difficulty chewing or swallowing etc. can cause a person to eat less and lose weight that can make you weak and malnourished. On the other hand, some cancer treatments may cause weight gain. Therefore people with cancer need to eat nutritious foods and adequately.
Good nutrition before, during and after treatment can help to:
Preparing for the treatment ahead, maintain a healthy balanced diet and healthy weight to keep your body strong and energetic. A healthy balanced diet includes wholegrain, lean protein (eggs, fish, chicken, and meat), legumes, and fruits and vegetables.
You may also get ready and prepare ahead for your meals during treatment by:
During cancer treatment, your body often needs more calories, protein, and vitamins and minerals to help maintain your weight, rebuild your tissues and fight infections. Try to maintain your usual healthy diet as much as possible and include extra snacks in between meals.
However, you may experience difficulty eating enough due to side effects and weight loss. Try these tips improve your intake:
When recovering from cancer, it is important to keep your body healthy and of a healthy weight. Continue to focus on a healthy, varied and balanced diet that will provide your body with all the nutrients (carbohydrate, protein, healthy portion of fat, vitamin, minerals and fibre) it needs.
Each individual will go experience cancer and cancer treatment differently depending on the type of cancer, the type and duration of treatment, and the doses of the treatment. Some may have more problems or different issues and some may have none at all.
You may need help with your diet to manage the specific problems you are experiencing and a dietitian can help you with any diet changes you may need to make.
To consult our dietitians, contact our support team at +65 6363 1818 or click here to make an appointment.
