Treatment of Symptoms
Key Points for This Section
Anorexia
vogue Changes
Dry Mouth
Mouth Sores and Infections
Nausea
Diarrhea
Low White cell Counts and Infections
Dehydration (Lack of Fluid)
Constipation
When facet effects of cancer or cancer treatment have a control on ancient feeding, changes is made to help the patient get the nutrients needed. Medicines may even be given to increase craving. feeding foods that square measure high in calories, protein, vitamins, and minerals is typically best. Meals got to be planned to satisfy the patient's nutrition wishes and tastes in food. the next square measure variety of the extra common symptoms caused by cancer and cancer treatment and ways in which within which to treat or management them.
Anorexia
Anorexia (the loss of craving or have to be compelled to eat) is one altogether the foremost common problems for cancer patients. feeding in associate extremely calm, cosy place and getting regular exercise would possibly improve craving. the next would possibly facilitate cancer patients UN agency have a loss of appetite:
Eat small high-protein and high-calorie meals every 1-2 hours instead of three huge meals. the next square measure high-calorie, high-protein food choices:
Cheese and whacky.
Muffins.
Puddings.
process supplements.
Milkshakes.
Yogurt.
Ice cream.
dry milk adscititious to foods like pudding, milkshakes, or any direction victimization milk.
Finger foods (handy for snacking) like deviled eggs, deviled ham on whacky, or cheese or unfold on whacky or celery.
Chocolate.
Add additional calories and macromolecule to food by victimization butter, milk, honey, or sugar.
Drink liquid supplements (special drinks that have nutrients), soups, milk, juices, shakes, and smoothies, if feeding solid food is also a draw back.
Eat breakfasts that have one third of the calories and macromolecule needed for the day.
Eat snacks that have millions of calories and macromolecule.
Eat foods that smell smart. strong odors is avoided at intervals the subsequent ways:
Use boiling bags or microwave steaming bags.
Cook outdoors on the grill.
Use an area fan once modification of state.
Serve cold food instead of hot (since odors square measure at intervals the rising steam).
come out any food covers to unhitch the odors before going into a patient's area.
Use alittle fan to blow food odors off from patients.
Order take-out food.
attempt new foods and new recipes, flavorings, spices, and foods with a definite texture or thickness. Food likes and dislikes would possibly modification from day to day.
prepare menus before time and acquire facilitate preparing meals.
build and store small amounts of favorite foods so as that they square measure able to eat once hungry.
See the NCI electronic computer for feeding Hints: Before, During, and once Cancer Treatment, that has recipes like Lactose-Free Double pudding, Banana drink, and Fruit and Cream. For a free copy of this leaflet, call the Cancer knowledge Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).
Taste Changes
Changes in but foods vogue may even be caused by radiation treatment, dental problems, mouth sores and infections, or some medicines. many cancer patients UN agency receive medical care notice a bitter vogue or various changes in their sense of fashion. A surprising dislike for certain foods would possibly occur. this could cause a loss of craving, weight loss, and a slashed quality of life. Some or all of a conventional sense of fashion would possibly return, but it's getting to take up to a year once treatment ends. the next would possibly facilitate cancer patients UN agency have vogue changes:
Eat small meals and healthy snacks over and over daily.
Eat meals once hungry rather than at set mealtimes.
Eat favorite foods and take a glance at new foods once feeling best.
Eat poultry, fish, eggs, and cheese instead of chicken.
Eat citrus fruits (oranges, tangerines, lemons, grapefruit) unless mouth sores square measure gift.
Add spices and sauces to foods.
Eat meat with one factor sweet, like seasoning, jelly, or applesauce.
notice nonmeat, high-protein recipes in associate extremely eater or Chinese book of facts.
Use sugar-free lemon drops, gum, or mints if there is a tinny or bitter vogue at intervals the mouth.
Rinse mouth with water before feeding.
Eat with family and friends.
Have others prepare the meal.
Use plastic utensils if foods have a metal vogue.
Taking salt tablets throughout irradiation to the top and neck would possibly facilitate a conventional sense of fashion return faster once treatment.
Dry Mouth
Dry mouth is sometimes caused by irradiation to the top and neck and by certain medicines. status may need a control on speech, taste, and thus the flexibility to swallow or to use dentures or braces. there is in addition academic degree increased risk of cavities and gum ill health as a results of less secretion is made to clean the teeth and gums.
The main treatment for status is drinking millions of liquids. other ways within which to help relieve status embrace the following:
Keep water handy the smallest amount bit times to moisten the mouth.
Eat damp foods with additional sauces, gravies, butter, or marge.
Eat foods and drinks that square measure very sweet or tart (to increase saliva).
Eat ice chips or frozen desserts (such as frozen grapes and ice pops).
Drink fruit nectar instead of juice.
Suck on candy or chew gum.
Use a straw to drink liquids.
Clean teeth (including dentures) and rinse mouth a minimum of fourfold daily (after feeding and at bedtime). don't use mouth rinses that contain alcohol.
See the status section of the PDQ define on Oral Complications of medical care and Head/Neck Radiation for added knowledge.
Mouth Sores and Infections
Mouth sores is caused by medical care and irradiation. These treatments have a control on aggressive cells, like cancer cells. ancient cells at intervals the mouth in addition grow quickly and will be broken by these cancer treatments. Mouth sores is painful and become infected or bleed and build it exhausting to eat. By choosing certain foods and taking wonderful care of their mouths, patients can typically build feeding easier. the next can facilitate patients UN agency have mouth sores and infections:
Eat soft foods that square measure easy to chew and swallow, just like the following:
Soft fruits, also as bananas, applesauce, and watermelon.
Peach, pear, and apricot nectars.
cheese.
Mashed potatoes.
Macaroni and cheese.
Custards and puddings.
Gelatin.
Milkshakes.
broken eggs.
Oatmeal or various stewed cereals.
keep one's eyes faraway from the following:
Citrus fruits and juices, (such as oranges, tangerines, lemons, and grapefruit).
Spicy or salty foods.
Rough, coarse, or dry foods, also as raw vegetables, granola, toast, and whacky.
Use a blender to create vegetables (such as potatoes, peas, and carrots) and meats swish.
Add gravy, broth, or sauces to food.
Drink high-calorie, high-protein drinks in addition to meals.
Cook foods until soft and tender.
Eat foods cold or at temperature. Hot and warmth foods can irritate a young mouth.
Cut foods into small things.
Use a straw to drink liquids.
Numb the mouth with ice chips or flavored ice pops before feeding.
Clean teeth (including dentures) and rinse mouth a minimum of fourfold daily (after feeding and at bedtime).
See the Oral Mucositis and Infection sections of the PDQ define on Oral Complications of medical care and Head/Neck Radiation for added knowledge on mouth sores and infections.
Nausea
Nausea caused by willcer treatment will have a control on the amount and varieties of food devoured . the next would possibly facilitate cancer patients management nausea:
Eat before cancer treatments.
Rinse out the mouth before and once feeding.
Eat foods that square measure bland, soft, and easy-to-digest, rather than important meals. Eat small meals over and over daily.
Eat dry foods like whacky, bread sticks, or toast throughout the day.
Slowly sip fluids throughout the day.
Suck on exhausting candies like peppermints or lemon drops if the mouth includes a unhealthy vogue.
keep one's eyes faraway from foods that square measure attainable to cause nausea. for some patients, this includes spicy foods, greasy foods, and foods that have strong odors.
stay up or screw the upper body raised for one hour once feeding.
don't eat a district that has modification of state odors or that is very heat. Keep the spatial relation at a cosy temperature with millions of recent air.
See the PDQ define on Nausea and ejection for added knowledge.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea may even be caused by cancer treatments, surgery on the abdomen or intestines, or by emotional stress. long-run symptom would possibly lead to dehydration (lack of water at intervals the body) or low levels of salt and metal, that square measure necessary minerals needed by the body.
The following would possibly facilitate cancer patients management diarrhea:
Eat broth, soups, bananas, and canned fruits to help replace salt and metal lost by symptom. Sports drinks can also facilitate.
Drink millions of fluids throughout the day. Liquids at temperature would possibly cause fewer problems than hot or cold liquids.
Drink a minimum of 1 cup of liquid once each loose bm.
keep one's eyes faraway from the following:
Greasy foods, hot or cold liquids, or caffein.
High-fiber foods—especially dried beans and dilleniid magnoliopsid family vegetables (such as broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage).
Milk and milk product, until the reason for the symptom is known.
Foods and beverages that cause gas (such as peas, lentils, dilleniid magnoliopsid family vegetables, chew gum, and soda).
Sugar-free candies or gum created with sorbitol (sugar alcohol).
See the Dehydration (Lack of Fluid) section for added knowledge.
Low White cell Counts and Infections
A low white cell count may even be caused by irradiation, therapy, or the cancer itself. Patients UN agency have a occasional white cell count have academic degree increased risk of infection. the next would possibly facilitate cancer patients stop infections once white cell counts square measure low:
keep one's eyes off from:
Raw eggs or raw fish.
Old, moldy, or broken fruits and vegetables.
Food sold in open bins or containers.
dish bars and buffets once feeding out.
Wash hands typically to prevent the unfold of organism.
Thaw foods at intervals the refrigerator or microwave. never thaw foods at temperature. Cook foods right away once thawing.
Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.
Cook all meat, poultry, and fish until well done.
Refrigerate all leftovers among a combine of hours of modification of state and eat them among twenty four hours.
get foods packed as single servings, to avoid leftovers.
aren't getting or eat food that is out of date.
aren't getting or eat food in cans that square measure swollen, dented, or damaged.
Dehydration (Lack of Fluid)
The body wishes millions of water to exchange the fluids lost on a commonplace. Nausea, vomiting, and pain would possibly keep the patient from drinking and feeding enough to induce the amount of water the body wishes. long-run symptom causes a loss of fluid from the body. one altogether the first signs of dehydration (lack of water at intervals the body) is feeling very tired. the next would possibly facilitate cancer patients stop dehydration:
Drink eight to 12 cups of liquids daily. this could be water, juice, milk, or foods that have millions of liquid in them, like ice pops, flavored ices, and gelatins.
keep one's eyes faraway from drinks that have alkaloid in them, like sodas, coffee, and tea (both hot and cold).
Take a bottle whenever feat home. it's a necessity to drink nevertheless not thirsty.
Drink most liquids between meals.
Use medicines that facilitate stop and treat nausea and ejection.
Constipation
It is quite common for cancer patients to possess constipation (fewer than three gut movements a week). Constipation may even be caused by the following:
deficient water or fiber at intervals the diet.
Not being active.
Cancer treatment, like medical care.
certain medicines accustomed treat the facet effects of medical care, like nausea and pain.
Preventing and treating constipation is also a a district of cancer care.
To prevent constipation:
Eat further fiber-containing foods. Twenty-five to thirty 5 grams of fiber daily is best. Food labels show the amount of fiber in associate extremely serving. (Some sources of fiber square measure listed below.) Add somewhat further fiber day once day and drink millions of fluids at identical time to remain the fiber moving through the intestines.
Drink eight to 12 cups of fluid day once day. Water, prune juice, heat juices, lemonade, and teas whereas not alkaloid is very helpful.
Take walks and exercise typically. Wear shoes created for exercise.
To treat constipation:
still eat high-fiber foods and drink millions of fluids. attempt adding wheat bran to the diet; begin with a combine of heaping tablespoons day once day for 3 days, then increase by one tablespoon day once day until constipation is mitigated. do not take over half-dozen tablespoons daily.
keep physically active.
Use over-the-counter constipation treatments, if needed. These include:
Bulk-forming product (such as Citrucel, Metamucil, Fiberall, and Fiber-Lax).
Stimulants (such as Dulcolax and Senokot).
Stool softeners (such as Colace and Surfak).
Osmotics (such as milk of magnesia).
seed and aerosol enemas can also facilitate. do not use lubricants like oil as a results of they're going to keep the body from victimization necessary nutrients the means that it got to.
Good food sources of fiber embrace the following:
Legumes (beans and lentils).
Vegetables.
Cold cereals (whole grain or bran).
Hot cereals.
Fruit.
Whole-grain breads.
See the Constipation section of the PDQ define on passage Complications for added knowledge.