Tips for Maintaining Good Health during Cancer Treatment - Cooking Tips

During cancer treatment, it is important to get the proper nutrients to maintain your strength and to help your immune system battle illness. This can be difficult for cancer patients who are having a particularly troublesome time because of nausea and lack of appetite associated with chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Many people have found that they can get vital nutrients and calories by drinking nutrient enhanced smoothies or milk shakes, which, in many cases, are tolerated easier than many types of solid food. Fruit smoothies containing frozen yogurt or even ice cream may help to add needed calories; however, once you are feeling better and are able to tolerate more types of food, ice cream fruit smoothies may not be a good idea because they are loaded with fat. Adding protein powder to a fruit smoothie can help to ensure that you are getting adequate quantities of protein even when it may be difficult for you to get protein from some of the more obvious sources. And, if you use dark berries in your smoothie, such as blueberries and strawberries, you are also gaining the antioxidant properties that these fruits provide. Your physician and/or dietitian will advise you on specific ways to combat nausea and maintain proper nutrition during your cancer treatments.

Some foods can cause inflammation in the body, which can actually fuel certain types of cancer, making it more difficult for the body to fight disease. Chief among the foods that cause inflammation are junk foods and red meats.

Avoid Junk Foods

It is important to avoid junk foods during cancer treatments to limit blood-sugar spikes, which can cause inflammation in the body. Foods produced with white flour, granulated cane sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, and hydrogenated fats are the types of foods to strictly limit or avoid.

Avoid Junk Foods

Limit Consumption of Red Meat

Like foods made with sugar and white flour and fat, red meats can also cause inflammation in the body, so it is important to limit the intake of red meat during cancer treatments. Processed red meat products, such as sausages and bacon, are also important to avoid or to limit in the diet. Although red meat is a good source of protein, there are other protein-rich foods that are less inflammatory, such as fish and poultry. Protein powders added to beverages are also a good way to get enough protein in the diet. Multivitamins taken every day can provide the essential vitamins and minerals found in red meat but should be used as a substitute for a balanced diet.

Limit Your Intake of Red Meat and Processed Red Meat Products

Chemotherapy and radiation treatments to combat cancer affect everyone differently, but just as the lack of an appetite is quite common during treatments, so too is the lack of thirst. Many experts believe that cancer treatments reduce the thirst signal in some people during cancer treatments, which may lead to unintentional dehydration. It is important to drink a minimum of 8 cups of liquid a day to maintain proper hydration. Water, clear liquids, and fresh juices are the best choices. Your physician and/or dietitian are the best sources for advising you on your specific hydration requirements during cancer treatments.

The chemical substances found in our foods and other products may not pose a problem for most of us; however, for people undergoing cancer treatments, some of these substances can create difficulties. Some cancer patients are very sensitive to some of the chemicals that are used in foods, as well as chemicals used in soaps, detergents, and personal care products. In addition, the various scents used in a number of products can be quite irritating to cancer patients who have an altered sense of smell because of the disease and/or because of the cancer treatments.

If, because of the disease and/or treatments, you are now having problems with products that you have used in the past without any difficulty, there are a number of things you can do to avoid problems. Whenever possible, purchase organic foods rather than highly processed varieties. Make sure to read the label to ensure that a particular product was produced without the use of chemicals, fertilizers, and pesticides. Purchase soaps and detergents that are free of perfumes and dyes, as these can be a common cause of irritation. When you purchase personal care products, such as deodorants and lotions, choose products that are unscented and hypoallergenic in order to reduce irritation. It is always a good idea to consult with your physician if you are having sensitivity issues with particular products during cancer treatment.

During cancer treatments, your energy level may be drastically reduced. Many cancer patients have problems maintaining strength and endurance because of the side affects caused by chemotherapy and radiation. They feel weak, tired, and basically ill during the entire treatment regiment. It is important, however, to keep as active as possible to maintain strength.

Consult with Medical Professionals

Your doctor and/or physical therapist will advise you on the best course of action to take for proper exercise during your cancer treatment regiment. What is good for one person may not be good for you, so this is why medical professionals should always be consulted. When designing an exercise program for you, they will take into account a number of factors: the type of cancer that you are living with, your age and weight, your prior medical history, your overall physical condition, and so on. You may have an abnormal blood profile, in which case, certain exercises could be dangerous if, for example, your platelet count is low and a fall occurs because of a particular exercise. This could result in excessive bleeding because of the low number of blood-clotting platelet cells in your blood.

Pace Yourself and Know Your Limits

Some cancer patients may want to go overboard in their exercise regiment, but this may not be a good idea during cancer treatments. It is always best to start slowly and take on more exercise as you feel able. Others may feel as though they can do no exercise at all, but for these people, even a short walk can be beneficial. Leisurely bike rides and swims or a yoga class are other good activities for people who are unable to do more strenuous exercise. Remember, you don't have to overdo it in order to receive the benefits that regular exercise can provide while living with cancer.