When undergoing chemotherapy, you need to stay as healthy as possible, so that you are comfortable and able to undergo the best treatment possible.
What you eat, drink and do makes a huge difference to how chemo affects you, and so you need to eat well, drink plenty of clear fluids and be sure to follow the advice your medical practitioners provide you.
Everyone’s experience with chemotherapy is different. Therefore, while there are certain side effects, you may not experience the ones you expect to undergo. All you can do is counter them when they do finally make an appearance.
Unpleasant Taste
Chemo can make certain foods and drink taste almost metallic, which is an unpleasant experience for all. Sadly, meat and water are the two most common items impacted by chemo. However, you can counteract these unpleasant tastes by switching plain water to flavored mineral water or adding fruit, such as berries or a slice of lemon. If you can no longer stomach meat, then eat eggs and fish instead.
Improve Your Diet
Many cancer patients can gain weight, and so dieticians suggest low-fat meals and snacks, which include plenty of vegetables. On the other hand, people can also experience a loss of appetite, causing them to lose weight instead. You need to continue eating when undergoing chemo so that your body is strong enough to take the radiation. Eat carbohydrates as they are easy to digest. Hot cereals and pita bread with hummus can be nutritious snacks for you to enjoy.
Certain foods and drink will need to be limited when undergoing chemo. For instance, your physician may limit your amount of green tea because green (and white) teas include antioxidant phytochemicals, which can interfere with your chemotherapy. You will also want to check with your doctor about soy-based foods, as this can interfere with certain types of cancer or chemotherapy.
Aid Digestion
Constipation can be a symptom of chemo, and so you need to ensure you remain hydrated and include fiber in your diet, however, you should eat fiber slowly. To aid your digestion, laxatives such as Miralax can help. What’s more, a MiraLax discount card can help keep costs down. You should also exercise lightly and undergo small walks which can be a powerful intestinal stimulant.
Control Your Nausea
Chemo can make you feel nauseated and is a common side effect of the treatment. You can help relieve these symptoms by chewing on crystallized ginger, sipping ginger or peppermint tea, and avoiding strong smelling foods or foods that are greasy or fried. You should also avoid caffeine, stop smoking and suck on ice or hard candy during chemo. If you’re struggling with the symptoms, your doctor will be able to prescribe you with medication to help with the nausea you’re feeling.
Ask Your Dietitian About Supplements
You should not take any dietary supplements during chemo. Minerals, herbals, botanicals, and vitamins, such as vitamin A, E and C, can interfere with the effectiveness of chemotherapy. This is because there can be certain antioxidants that can prevent the formation of ions.
