Eat regular meals and snacks throughout the day.If you are reading this, you or someone you know is going through or preparing for cancer treatment. A cancer diagnosis is life changing, and this can be a stressful and difficult time, a time often filled with challenges and change. Not everyone experiences side effects, and for those who do, not everyone experiences the same side effects or experiences them in the same way. A person going through cancer treatment has unique nutritional needs and issues related to eating; what’s more, these needs may change throughout the cancer experience. Your appetite may change from day to day. Foods may not taste or smell the way they did before treatment, and you may be surprised by some of the foods that appeal to you. You may have to deal with unintended weight loss or gain.
Many people going through cancer ask if diet and nutrition can help them fight and recover from cancer. The answer is yes! No matter what side effects you experience, nutrition will be an essential part of dealing with your cancer and cancer treatment. Healthy eating and staying hydrated can help fuel recovery, help you manage side effects, and keep your body strong.
Some people going through cancer treatment continue to enjoy eating and have a normal appetite throughout treatment. Others have days when they don’t feel like eating at all. For many, side effects come and go. Not eating enough can lead to weight loss, and weight loss can lead to weakness and fatigue. Eating as well as you can during your treatment and your recovery is an important part of taking care of yourself.
There are no hard and fast rules about how to eat during cancer treatment. Eat as healthfully as possible—the importance of this cannot be overstated. However, eating during treatment may be different in many ways from how you ate before. Eating well does not mean that you need to be perfect. Try to select a variety of nutritious foods each day to help keep your body healthy. But do not be too hard on yourself if the foods you can tolerate are not the most nutritious or if you have days during which your appetite is poor. There will be times when what you can eat is impacted by your treatment and its effect on your body.
You will find some recipes in this book that are higher in calories, fat, or sugar than typically recommended as part of the daily diet for someone without cancer. Managing side effects can require a different approach. Balance is key, and the nutritional needs of a person going through cancer treatment are unique and different from those of someone without cancer.
In many ways, this is not a typical cookbook. Recipes are organized by side effect: nausea, diarrhea, constipation, trouble swallowing, sore mouth or throat, unintentional weight loss, and taste changes. As you’re reading through the recipes, look for these symbols at the top of the page:
N NAUSEA
D DIARRHEA
C CONSTIPATION
TS TROUBLE SWALLOWING
SM SORE MOUTH OR THROAT
WL UNINTENTIONAL WEIGHT LOSS
TC TASTE CHANGES
For reference, a couple of lists are included to help you find the recipes that will be most useful to you. In the beginning of the book, there is a list of all recipes by chapter, with symbols beside each indicating the side effects for which it is appropriate. At the back of the book (pages 261–266), you will also find a complete list of recipes for each side effect, to give a clear, easy-to-understand picture of what might be best for you. Keep in mind that many of the recipes work for people dealing with more than one side effect. For example, the Raspberry Chia Pudding on page 121 appears in the chapter for constipation, but may also be appropriate if you are experiencing taste changes, so both the C and TC icons appear on that page.
Most people with cancer have families that are going through this experience along with them. While the recipes are focused on a cancer patient’s specific needs, most are also nutritious and easy to prepare and are also intended for the family or caretaker to enjoy. Since these recipes are written for people who are undergoing treatment, some are mildly flavored. Tips throughout the book give suggestions for ways to adapt the recipes for family members or for when the side effect has resolved. As you start to feel better, you can tweak the recipes to suit your changing tastes and needs.
Some people with cancer are also dealing with other health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure. Many of the recipes in this book are appropriate for people with other health issues, but if this applies to you, make sure your regular doctors know you are being treated for cancer, and always follow the advice of your health care team. If you are already on a diet for a particular health condition, make sure that you speak with your doctor before you make changes.
This second edition also comes with updated and expanded content that will be of great use to anyone going through cancer treatment. This information is based on years of experience working with patients and helping them navigate that process. On pages 8–9, advice is given for the caregiver. Taking care of someone who is going through cancer treatment can be challenging, but also rewarding. On pages 10–16, guidance is provided on food safety for someone going through treatment. Food safety is very important during treatment, when your immune system can be compromised and more vulnerable to foodborne infections. On pages 17–19, you’ll find information on snacking and staying hydrated. A section addressing some common questions is on pages 20–22. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies during treatment are discussed on pages 23–25. See page 26 for information about how to deal with weight gain during treatment. While less common than weight loss, it is still a problem that affects many people. And new to this edition, a section has been added on eating and living well after treatment (pages 249–258).
During active cancer treatment, your overall nutritional goal should be to eat a variety of foods that provide the nutrients needed to maintain health while you fight cancer. Try to do these things every day, when possible:
Eat regular meals and snacks throughout the day.
Include an array of colorful fruits and vegetables in your diet.
Incorporate good sources of protein in your diet, including plant-based proteins such as nuts, seeds, beans, and peas.
Drink plenty of water and other hydrating fluids.
As you are able, be physically active, and try to avoid inactivity.
Strive to obtain and maintain a healthy weight during treatment, with your doctor’s guidance.
Keep your cupboards and refrigerator stocked with foods and snacks so that you have ready-to-eat items on hand for times when you are not feeling well.
Plan ahead by cooking in advance and freezing foods in meal-sized portions.
Do not be afraid to try new foods, especially if favorite foods are tasting different or unpleasant.
Most cancer centers have a registered dietitian (RD) on staff to help patients. Talk with your health care team about any nutrition- and diet-related concerns you have and ask them for a referral. Working one-on-one with the RD can help you create an individualized plan for your situation. If one is not available at your clinic or medical center, contact the American Cancer Society at 800-227-2345, or you can also go to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website at eatright.org/find-an-expert to locate an RD who specializes in oncology nutrition in your area.
Whether you need help dealing with side effects or simply want to make sure you maintain your health, this cookbook was written to help you. These recipes and suggestions were written to make this time a little bit easier for everyone. Every person is different, and your cancer experience will be unique. As mentioned earlier, there are no hard and fast rules about how to eat during cancer treatment. With experimentation, you can learn what works best for you.
For more information about cancer, nutrition, and managing the side effects of treatment, contact the American Cancer Society at 800-227-2345 or cancer.org.