Articles
Support for Those with Cancer
When an individual is diagnosed with cancer, they may be overwhelmed with worry and are often hit with barrage of cancer treatment information and appointments with cancer specialists. Food and eating is likely a very distant thought in ones mind. However, maximising nutrient intake at this time can have a very beneficial effect on quality of life and treatment outcome. Perth Diet Clinic dietitians are highly focused on helping those with cancer to overcome the barriers associated with food that may face them during this time.
Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy
Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy are highly taxing on the body. The drugs used during chemotherapy are designed to kill rapidly dividing cells, such as cancer cells, but unfortunately they can also kill healthy cells. Radiotherapy uses radiation to kill or damage cancer cells. Although treatment is targeted as closely to cancer cells as possible, often healthy cells are also affected. It uses a large amount of energy to repair these damaged cells, and so the body’s energy requirements significantly increase. Unfortunately, the side effects of treatment can impact on food intake leading to overall reduced energy intake. Possible side effects include reduced immunity, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, mouth ulcers, taste changes, difficulty chewing and swallowing, diarrhoea, constipation, weight loss and anaemia.
Eating adequate amounts of food, whilst dealing with any one of these side effects, is a challenge. Dietitians are trained professionals who can educate patients on ways around each of these obstacles. A dietitian may help in one of the following ways;
Prepare a food plan with timed meals and snacks of varying portion sizes to overcome loss of appetite
Make a list of difficult to tolerate foods and replace these with ones of similar nutrient content that are more acceptable.
Incorporate taste enhancers to overcome loss of taste and loss of enjoyment
Incorporate liquid supplements or modified food textures to overcome swallowing or chewing difficulties and mouth ulcers.
Adjust the intake and type of fibre and fluid to overcome diarrhoea or constipation issues
Ensure adequate nutrient intake and recommend supplements to overcome deficiencies such as anaemia and weight loss.
Bowel Disorders
Cancer of the bowel can cause a blockage, restricting movement in the bowel. Side effects such as abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea and constipation will certainly impact the way one eats, and the desire to eat. The bowel is the area of food absorption, and if this is affected in any way, the body can become depleted of a number of nutrients. Surgery of the bowel will also have an impact on nutrient absorption. A dietitian can help in the following ways;
Address the type and amount of fibrous foods eaten to either increase or decrease movement in particular areas of the bowel
Advise on foods to avoid, such as those increasing gas production
Recommend liquid supplements that will move easier past blockages and provide adequate nutrition
Recommend particular nutrients that need to be supplemented, if serum levels are low
Advise on how bowel resections will affect long term eating habits and secretions and educating on how to best maintain optimum nutrition
Stomach Disorders
Stomach cancers and the associated treatment side effects will most certainly affect an individual’s food intake and therefore the body’s energy and nutrient intake. The cancer itself can cause side effects such as a feeling of fullness, loss of appetite, indigestion, heart burn, bloating, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and difficulty swallowing. A dietitian can help in the following ways;
Create an eating plan based on very small portions eaten at regular intervals throughout the day
Advise liquid supplements to overcome loss of appetite, chewing and swallowing difficulties and indigestion
Advise on foods to avoid to overcome abdominal pain, heart burn and bloating
Chewing and Swallowing Difficulties
Difficulty or pain related to chewing and swallowing is a very common side effect of some cancers and their related treatments. Changing the texture of a food requires adding things and taking things away, both of which will affect the overall nutrient content of the meal. For those with cancer, it is important to get as much nutrition into a small amount of foods as possible. A dietitian can help in the following ways:
Educate on how texture modification practices can deplete a food of nutrients and ways to prevent this
Advise which particular nutrients are at most risk of depletion and may need supplemented
Provide texture modified recipes to ensure adequate nutrient content is maintained
Provide information on how to increase the nutrient content of texture modified foods by the addition of particular ingredients or supplements
Advise on how to keep texture modified foods tasty and appealing to those whose taste and desire to eat may be diminished
Perth Diet Clinic dietitians are well trained in treating patients with cancer and helping them to overcome the eating barriers they face during cancer and its treatment. Food is not only about maintaining health, energy and life; it also plays a huge part in a patient’s emotional well being.
Added to site on : Monday, 7 April 2014