Treatment for mesothelioma, or any cancer, often carries with it, painful and uncomfortable side effects for patients. The most common side effects include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, which make a healthy diet difficult for patients. Below are nutritional suggestions for coping with common cancer symptoms such as anorexia, taste changes, dry mouth and mouth sores and infections:
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Anorexia (lack of appetite)
- Eat small high-protein, high-calorie meals every 1-2 hours throughout the day
- Ask for help when preparing meals
- Add extra calories & protein to food (butter, skim milk powder, honey, brown sugar)
- Drink liquid supplements such as soup, milk, juices, shakes or smoothies when you can't eat solids
- Have food ready at-hand for when hunger strikes
- Make breakfast your largest meal of the day
- Avoid eating food with strong odors
- Try different recipes to accommodate changing likes and dislikes
Taste Changes
- Rinse mouth out with water before eating
- Try eating citrus fruits (oranges, tangerines, lemons, grapefruit) unless mouth sores are present
- Eat small meals & healthy snacks several times a day when hungry rather than establishing set meal times
- Use plastic utensils if foods taste metallic
- Try favorite foods
- Eat with family and friends
- Have others prepare the meal
- Try new foods when feeling best
- Substitute poultry, fish, eggs, and cheese for red meat
- Find non-meat, high-protein recipes in a vegetarian or Chinese cookbook
- Use sugar-free lemon drops, gum or mints if there is a metallic or bitter taste in the mouth
- Add spices and sauces to food
- Eat meat with something sweet, such as cranberry sauce, jelly, or applesauce
Dry Mouth
- Drink plenty of fluids (about ½ ounce per pound of body weight per day)
- Eat moist foods with extra sauces, gravies, butter or margarine
- Suck on hard candy or chew gum
- Eat frozen desserts (such as frozen grapes and ice pops) or ice chips
- Clean teeth (including dentures) and rinse mouth at least four times per day (after each meal and before bedtime)
- Keep water handy at all times to moisten the mouth
- Choose foods and drinks that are very sweet or tart, to stimulate saliva
- Avoid mouth rinses containing alcohol
- Drink fruit nectar instead of juice
- Use a straw to drink liquids
Mouth Sores and Infections
- Eat soft foods that are easy to chew and swallow such as bananas, applesauce, cottage cheese, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, puddings, and scrambled eggs
- Use a blender to process vegetables and meats until smooth
- Avoid rough, course or dry foods such as raw vegetables, granola, and toast
- Avoid spicy, salty or acidic foods
- Avoid citrus fruits and juices
- Cook foods until soft and tender
- Cut foods into small pieces
- Use a straw to drink liquids
- Eat foods cold or at room temperature
- Clean teeth (including dentures) and rinse mouth at least four times per day (after each meal and before bedtime)
- Add gravy, broth, or sauces to food
- Drink high-calorie, high-protein drinks in addition to meals
- Numb the mouth with ice chips or flavored ice pops
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Call 1-800-966-2244 to find out how we can help receive compensation for you and your family or fill out this short form to find a mesothelioma lawyer in your area.
