Overcoming Barriers to Nutrition
Cancer treatments are frequently accompanied by side effects that make it difficult to eat. Below you will find a list of common side effects and ways to control them for optimal nutrition. (Grant, Bloch, Hamilton, Thompson, 2010)
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Symptom Management:
Nausea or Vomiting
Nausea and or vomiting can be related to slowing digestion, side effects of medications, or a component of the illness.
Offer foods that are gentle on the stomach like crackers, chicken noodle soup, toast, dry cereal
Avoid foods high in fiber, heavy spices or strong odors, high in fat, greasy or fried.
Offer frequent small bites of food throughout the day.
Talk with your healthcare provider about medications that can help reduce nausea or vomiting.
Constipation
Constipation can be controlled with adequate hydration, fiber rich diet, fruits and vegetable.
Avoid foods that can be binding such as dairy, high protein, or high gluten content.
Over the counter medications such as stool softeners or laxatives can also be helpful.
Talk to your healthcare provider before starting a daily bowel regimen
Diarrhea
Diarrhea can also be the result of medications, or a component of the illness
It is important to stay hydrated, drink various beverages with electrolytes or minerals
Mouth Sores
Mouth sores can make it painful or difficult to eat.
Make sure food items are too hot or cold. Cool, luke warm, or room temperature is optimal.
Offer foods that are soft like jello or mashed potatoes. Avoid strong spices and foods that are rough or hard.
Talk with your healthcare provider about pain relieving medications, mouth rinse, or ointments for mouth sores
Difficulty Swallowing
Difficulty swallowing can be related to pain, weakness, or dysfunction of the throat.
If difficulty swallow is related to pain, follow the same recommendations for mouth sores.
If difficulty swallowing is related to weakness or dysfunction on of the throat, talk with your healthcare provider
about referral to a Speech/Language Pathologist for a swallow screening and diet modification recommendations
If you are having problems swallowing, try eating soft or liquid foods. You may be able to swallow thick fluids more easily than thin liquids, below is a list of different products you can use to thicken your food and liquids.
Gelatin: Use to help soften cakes, cookies, crackers, sandwiches, pureed fruits, and other cold food. Mix 1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin in 2 cups hot liquid until dissolved; pour over food. Allow food to sit until saturated.
Tapioca, flour, and cornstarch: Use to thicken liquids. Note that these must be cooked before using.
Commercial thickeners: Follow label instructions, and use to adjust a liquid’s thickness.
Pureed vegetables and instant potatoes: Use in soups. Note that these change the food’s flavor.
Baby rice cereal: Use to make a very thick product.
Refusal to Eat
Loss of appetite is common with various cancer treatments, chronic or terminal illness but loss of appetite does not reduce quality of life except for reducing the enjoyment of food. A patient’s refusal to eat may lead to anger, frustration, and sadness for both the patient and family.
Refusal to eat may be due to loss of appetite, loss of taste, or loss of interest.
Try to avoid filling up with liquid during meals, bite of nutrient rich food is more important.
Keep high-calorie, high-protein snacks on hand. Hard boiled eggs, peanut butter, nuts, canned tuna, cheese, ice cream
Encourage the patients favorite foods but try not to get angry, frustrated, or overwhelmed.
Talk with your Healthcare provider about medications that can help stimulate the appetite.
Remember it is your desire for the patient to eat. It may not be their desire to do so.
The goal of palliative nutrition is comfort. Eating may cause discomfort.
Furstration, anger, sadness, and tension do not contribute to comfort.
Refusing food or water during illness is not like starvation. It does not cause pain. After a day with no food or water, the body produces a natural painkiller. The patient loses any sensation of hunger or thirst and even seems to experience a slight euphoria. Lack of food and fluids may also help the patient be more comfortable because it reduces symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, bloating, and diarrhea. The only discomfort identified is dry mouth that often happens with dehydration. Lip balm for the lips and ice chips or a mouth swab dipped in water can do much to relieve the symptoms of dry mouth.
(Grant, Bloch, Hamilton, Thompson, 2010)
Learn about starting or stopping artificial nutrition and hydration
For more information visit my.pearlpoint.org or the American Cancer Society Nutrition Page
Mobile Apps
Nausea or Vomiting
Nausea and or vomiting can be related to slowing digestion, side effects of medications, or a component of the illness.
Offer foods that are gentle on the stomach like crackers, chicken noodle soup, toast, dry cereal
Avoid foods high in fiber, heavy spices or strong odors, high in fat, greasy or fried.
Offer frequent small bites of food throughout the day.
Talk with your healthcare provider about medications that can help reduce nausea or vomiting.
Constipation
Constipation can be controlled with adequate hydration, fiber rich diet, fruits and vegetable.
Avoid foods that can be binding such as dairy, high protein, or high gluten content.
Over the counter medications such as stool softeners or laxatives can also be helpful.
Talk to your healthcare provider before starting a daily bowel regimen
Diarrhea
Diarrhea can also be the result of medications, or a component of the illness
It is important to stay hydrated, drink various beverages with electrolytes or minerals
- Drink and eat high-sodium (salt) foods like broths, soups, sports drinks, crackers, and pretzels.
- Drink and eat high-potassium foods like fruit juices and nectars, sports drinks, potatoes with the skin, and bananas.
- Increase soluble-fiber foods like applesauce, bananas, canned peaches and pears, oatmeal, and white rice.
- Drink at least 1 cup of liquid after each loose bowel movement. Try water, sports drinks, or bouillon.
- Do not chew sugar-free gum or eat candies and desserts made with sugar alcohol (i.e., sorbitol, mannitol, or xylitol).
Mouth Sores
Mouth sores can make it painful or difficult to eat.
Make sure food items are too hot or cold. Cool, luke warm, or room temperature is optimal.
Offer foods that are soft like jello or mashed potatoes. Avoid strong spices and foods that are rough or hard.
Talk with your healthcare provider about pain relieving medications, mouth rinse, or ointments for mouth sores
Difficulty Swallowing
Difficulty swallowing can be related to pain, weakness, or dysfunction of the throat.
If difficulty swallow is related to pain, follow the same recommendations for mouth sores.
If difficulty swallowing is related to weakness or dysfunction on of the throat, talk with your healthcare provider
about referral to a Speech/Language Pathologist for a swallow screening and diet modification recommendations
If you are having problems swallowing, try eating soft or liquid foods. You may be able to swallow thick fluids more easily than thin liquids, below is a list of different products you can use to thicken your food and liquids.
Gelatin: Use to help soften cakes, cookies, crackers, sandwiches, pureed fruits, and other cold food. Mix 1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin in 2 cups hot liquid until dissolved; pour over food. Allow food to sit until saturated.
Tapioca, flour, and cornstarch: Use to thicken liquids. Note that these must be cooked before using.
Commercial thickeners: Follow label instructions, and use to adjust a liquid’s thickness.
Pureed vegetables and instant potatoes: Use in soups. Note that these change the food’s flavor.
Baby rice cereal: Use to make a very thick product.
Refusal to Eat
Loss of appetite is common with various cancer treatments, chronic or terminal illness but loss of appetite does not reduce quality of life except for reducing the enjoyment of food. A patient’s refusal to eat may lead to anger, frustration, and sadness for both the patient and family.
Refusal to eat may be due to loss of appetite, loss of taste, or loss of interest.
Try to avoid filling up with liquid during meals, bite of nutrient rich food is more important.
Keep high-calorie, high-protein snacks on hand. Hard boiled eggs, peanut butter, nuts, canned tuna, cheese, ice cream
Encourage the patients favorite foods but try not to get angry, frustrated, or overwhelmed.
Talk with your Healthcare provider about medications that can help stimulate the appetite.
Remember it is your desire for the patient to eat. It may not be their desire to do so.
The goal of palliative nutrition is comfort. Eating may cause discomfort.
Furstration, anger, sadness, and tension do not contribute to comfort.
Refusing food or water during illness is not like starvation. It does not cause pain. After a day with no food or water, the body produces a natural painkiller. The patient loses any sensation of hunger or thirst and even seems to experience a slight euphoria. Lack of food and fluids may also help the patient be more comfortable because it reduces symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, bloating, and diarrhea. The only discomfort identified is dry mouth that often happens with dehydration. Lip balm for the lips and ice chips or a mouth swab dipped in water can do much to relieve the symptoms of dry mouth.
(Grant, Bloch, Hamilton, Thompson, 2010)
Learn about starting or stopping artificial nutrition and hydration
For more information visit my.pearlpoint.org or the American Cancer Society Nutrition Page
Mobile Apps