Proper Nutrition During Mesothelioma Chemotherapy

Nutrition is important regardless of current health conditions, but for those afflicted with cancer, it is important to be extra mindful of what is consumed. The proper diet can help fight off infection, even in a weakened state, as well as help fight the cancer. One of the first things that you and your doctor should talk about is your daily diet.
Chemotherapy is one of the main treatments that cancer patients can use to fight off this deadly health problem. The main goal of the treatment is to kill cancer cells, but healthy cells are affected as well. For more information about this type of cancer treatment, and chemotherapy options for mesothelioma patients, please read Chemotherapy.

Unfortunately, this method of treatment will damage healthy cells, leaving the body in a very weak state. In addition, chemotherapy has a number of side effects, such as nausea. If cancer patients do not eat properly, they can become malnourished and pass away not from cancer, but from an infection or other illness in their weakened state.

One of the most common side effects of chemotherapy is anorexia. This does not mean that you are willfully trying to give up food. Simply put, anorexia can mean that a person is not hungry. No matter how much you know you should eat, it is difficult to eat when you are not hungry and are feeling ill from treatment. However, not eating properly can gravely affect the healing process. Instead, plan for this lack of appetite. Choose foods that really pack a nutritional punch, so when you do eat, even if it is just a small amount, you are consuming nutritional foods high in protein and calories. Keep healthy snacks with you at all times. Talk to your doctor about a daily multi-vitamin that will help boost your diet.

Unfortunately, chemotherapy can also cause constipation and diarrhea - sometimes both in the same patient. To avoid these problems, drink plenty of fluids and avoid anything with caffeine. You may also want to cut most of the dairy out of your diet. Your doctor can also recommend foods with good soluble fiber, such as mashed potatoes and bananas, which can help with constipation and diarrhea.
One of the best ways to boost your diet during chemotherapy is to add as much protein to your diet as possible. Proteins, such as those found in meat, nuts and beans, can help you feel better during treatment, and can help fight cancer more effectively. Even if you do not care for meat or are dealing with anorexia, there are many ways to add protein to your diet. Here are some great tips for integrating protein whenever possible:

• When making pasta, add a beaten egg at the last second. As you stir, the heat will cook the egg, adding a great source of protein.
• Eat peanut butter with fruit.
• Add extra beans to soups and other dishes.
• Add powdered milk to recipes like muffins, mashed potatoes, and meatloaf.
• Prepare protein drinks and keep them with you all day, so you can get protein even just a sip at a time.
• Nuts are a great protein-enriched snack to carry with you throughout the day.

You can talk to your doctor about more ways to add protein to your diet. In addition, if you're dealing with anorexia, your doctor can help you add many calories to your diet to keep up strength. Some of the best ways to do this include:

• Spread butter or margarine on crackers.
• Stir unsweetened whipped cream into mashed potatoes.
• Add honey to cereal or desserts.
• Sprinkle granola into yogurt.
• Choose dried fruits as a healthy snack, and add them to meals or baked goods when possible.
• Sauté meats instead of broiling or baking.

The key with cancer is to fight it any way you can. Good nutrition can really improve quality of life, and it may even be able to help you fight cancer. Although chemotherapy patients may have a difficult time dealing with food, talk to your doctor about the best ways to continue eating a healthy diet.

A recent study conducted by researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center found that vitamin C may potentially decrease the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Though vitamin C is an antioxidant, which is typically reinforcing to whole body health, some classes of chemotherapy drugs produce free radicals that contribute to the death of a cancerous cell. Vitamin C, like other antioxidants which fight free radicals, may theoretically bind with the free radicals and prevent the cancerous cell from dying. If you are undergoing chemotherapy, it is best to talk with your doctor about the effects of vitamin C on this form of mesothelioma treatment.

Sources: