Different cancer treatments can cause
different kinds of problems that may make it hard to eat or drink.
Here are some problems you could have depending on the type of
treatment you receive:
Surgery
After surgery, you will need extra calories and protein for wound
healing and recovery. This is when many people have pain and feel
tired. They also may be unable to eat a normal diet because of
surgery-related side effects. Your body’s ability to use nutrients
may also be changed by surgery on any part of the digestive tract
(like the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, pancreas,
colon, or rectum).
Be sure to talk to your cancer care team about any problems you’re
having so they can help you manage them.
For suggestions on coping with treatment side effects, see
Managing Cancer-related Side Effects.
For more about information on surgery as a cancer treatment, see
Cancer Surgery.
Radiation therapy
The type of side effects radiation causes depends on the area of the
body being treated, the size of the area being treated, the type and
total dose of radiation, and the number of treatments.
Side effects usually start around the second or third week of
treatment and peak about two-thirds of the way through treatment.
After radiation ends, most side effects last 3 or 4 weeks, but some
may last much longer.
If you’re having trouble eating and have been following a special
eating plan for diabetes or another chronic health condition, some
of these general tips may not work for you. Talk to your cancer care
team about how best to change your eating habits while you’re
getting radiation.
Tell your cancer care team about any side effects you have so they
can prescribe any needed medicines. For example, there are medicines
to control nausea and vomiting and to treat diarrhea.
See
How Radiation Therapy Can Affect Different Parts of the Body for
more information on its side effects.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy (chemo) side effects depend on what kind of chemo drugs
you take and how you take them.
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Chemo is often given at an outpatient
center. It may take anywhere from a few minutes to many hours. Make
sure you eat something beforehand. Most people find that a light
meal or snack an hour or so before chemo works best. If you’ll be
there several hours, plan ahead and bring a small meal or snack in
an insulated bag or cooler. Find out if there’s a refrigerator or
microwave you can use.
Some side effects of chemo go away within hours of getting
treatment. If side effects last longer, tell your cancer care team.
There are things you can do to lessen eating-related side effects.
And prompt attention to eating-related side effects can help keep up
your weight and energy level and help you feel better.
If you’re having trouble eating and have been following a special
eating plan for diabetes or some other chronic health condition,
talk to your cancer care team about how best to change your eating
habits while getting chemo.
Here are some of the more common
problems and tips on how to deal with them. Always tell your cancer
care team about any problems you have. There are often things that
can be done to treat the problem or keep it from getting worse.
Common eating problems
• Appetite changes
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Mouth dryness or thick saliva
• Mouth sores or sore throat
• Nausea
• Swallowing problems
• Taste and smell changes
• Weight changes
For more information, see
Managing Cancer-related side effects.
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