When a loved one is going through chemotherapy, one of the first questions at home is what to feed them: what will sit well, what will help them keep their strength up and what is best to avoid. It is a very common concern, and here we share a simple guide for day-to-day life.
Before we start, something important: every patient is different. These are general recommendations; specific instructions should always come from your medical team, who know your treatment and your health.
Why does appetite change during chemotherapy?
Some chemotherapy drugs can cause, in certain patients, nausea, changes in how food tastes, dry mouth or simply less hunger. It does not happen to everyone, and when it does, it is usually temporary and comes in stretches within each cycle. The goal during treatment is not to eat "perfectly," but to keep up strength, weight and good hydration with whatever the body tolerates.
Which foods tend to sit well?
On the difficult days, soft, simple foods are usually the best allies:
- Grains and starches: rice, pasta, tortillas, toast, saltine crackers, boiled potato, oatmeal.
- Gentle proteins: shredded chicken, eggs, well-cooked beans, atole made with milk, yogurt, pasteurized fresh cheese.
- Cooked or soft fruits and vegetables: banana, cooked or pureed apple, zucchini, cooked carrot.
- Broths and soups: chicken broth, consommé, creamed vegetable soups; they nourish and hydrate at the same time.
A few tips that help a lot:
- Small, frequent meals (5 or 6 a day) instead of three large ones.
- Cold or room-temperature foods, which give off less odor than hot ones and are usually easier to tolerate when there is nausea.
- Make the most of the good days to eat a little more, and more variety.
- Keep ready-to-eat snacks on hand: crackers, fruit, yogurt, for whenever the appetite shows up.
What can you do when there is nausea?
First, the most important thing: if your oncologist prescribed anti-nausea medication, take it exactly as directed, even before you feel nauseated, because it is much easier to prevent nausea than to stop it. Beyond that:
- Eat slowly and in a well-ventilated place, away from strong cooking smells.
- Choose dry, simple foods when you wake up, such as saltine crackers or toast.
- Avoid very greasy, heavily seasoned or very sweet foods on sensitive days.
- Stay seated or semi-reclined for at least an hour after eating.
- Ginger (as tea or in drinks) may help some people; talk it over with your doctor first.
- Avoid eating right before your session; many people tolerate something light a couple of hours beforehand much better.
If the nausea or vomiting does not let up with the prescribed medication, tell your medical team: there are more options for controlling them, and adjusting in time makes a big difference.
Hydration: as important as food
During chemotherapy, drinking enough fluids helps the body eliminate the medications and feel less tired. Try to drink throughout the day, in small sips: plain water, oral rehydration solutions, lightly sweetened fruit waters, broths, gelatin. If there is vomiting or diarrhea, hydration becomes even more important; ask your team how much fluid you should drink and when to call.
Are there foods best avoided?
During some stages of treatment the body's defenses can drop, and then extra care with food hygiene is recommended:
- Wash and disinfect fruits and vegetables; on low-defense days, choose them cooked or with a peel you can remove.
- Avoid raw or undercooked meat, fish and eggs, as well as unpasteurized dairy.
- Keep everything clean when preparing food, and avoid dishes that have been sitting out for a long time or at room temperature.
- Check with your doctor before taking supplements, medicinal teas or herbal remedies, because some can interfere with treatment.
Every patient needs their own plan
Food-related symptoms —nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss— can have many different causes, and only a medical evaluation can determine what is causing them and how to manage them in each case. That is why, more than following rigid lists, the most valuable thing is for the patient and family to have personalized guidance.
At the Unidad de Oncología Menonita, our cancer center in Cuauhtémoc, we accompany our patients in this area too: during the consultation we provide nutrition guidance suited to each treatment, and we answer the family's questions about eating at home. If you would like an evaluation for yourself or for a loved one, message us on WhatsApp at 614 120 2911.
Sources:
- https://www.cancer.gov/espanol/cancer/sobrellevar/consejos-de-alimentacion.pdf
- https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/patient-education/eating-well-during-your-treatment
- https://www.roswellpark.org/es/cancertalk/202210/food-strategies-combat-nausea
This content is for information only and does not replace a medical consultation.