Drinking and eating changes are observed in people fighting cancer disease. Loss of appetite, difficulty in eating and drinking is commonly observed as a side effect of cancer treatment. A person might not feel like eating or do not feel like eating more after having a small amount of food
1.Loss of appetite
Loss of appetite can occur due to change in metabolism which usually occurs when the cancer is in an advanced stage.
Abdominal cancer, ascites, radiation therapy, surgery of gastrointestinal part, etc can cause loss of appetite
2.Problem in swallowing food
Chemotherapy on the throat or chest can affect the swallowing process of food. Certain side effects of cancer such as nausea, vomiting, pain in the mouth, mouth sores, etc can also cause problem in swallowing food or drink.
3.Changes in taste and smell
Cancer itself and cancer treatment might affect the taste and smell in a person. With change in taste and smell there is change in the diet. Foods that one consume might taste metallic, sweet or salty.
4.Change in body weight
It is common to observe weight fluctuation as a side effect. Some might lose weight and in some there is weight gain. One must avoid dieting if undergoing chemotherapy. If there is lot of weight changes, your healthcare provider might change the line of treatment.
Trying the following points can be beneficial in patients having trouble in eating and drinking.
Do not take large portion of meals. Instead have small portion in frequent intervals.
Avoid intake of alcohol and spicy foods as it affects the digestive system and makes it worse.
Take help from your healthcare provider for any difficulty in eating and drinking.
Avoid foods and drinks that will bloat the stomach or cause constipation.
Know the problems related to chemotherapy in advance. This will help you manage the problem well.
If there is a loss of appetite then instead of increasing your diet portion, increase the amount of protein and energy in the diet. Also, it is important to consume lot of fluids in a day.
Consult your doctor if you are having following sign and symptoms –
It is always recommended to talk to your doctor for better management and treatment of any side effects.
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