Tips for eating during cancer treatment for good health

Misconceptions that harm patients

Doctor Nguyen Quynh Tu, Department A6D - General Oncology, 108 Central Military Hospital, said that most patients, due to lack of knowledge and fear of cancer development or recurrence, do not dare to eat and drink, and follow a macrobiotic diet, leading to weight loss, malnutrition, affecting health and quality of life, as well as not being healthy enough to treat cancer.

Patients often believe that red meat and foods rich in protein (such as milk, eggs, etc.) will cause tumors to grow faster, leading to a restriction or abstinence from these foods. However, this is a misconception.

Scientific evidence does not support this view. Protein is a basic factor that helps the body heal wounds, fight infections during and after surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, is a material to replenish the body's muscle mass lost due to catabolism, it also helps increase appetite while the patient is always anorexic and has poor appetite.

"Many people who blindly treat cancer with macrobiotics have paid the price. Macrobiotics cannot cure cancer, some patients have missed the golden period in the treatment process, and even died" - Professor, Dr. Le Thi Huong, head of the nutrition department of K Hospital, warned.

Recently, a 30-month-old patient was diagnosed with leukemia but did not receive treatment at the hospital, but instead placed his trust in the advertisement for treatment by chewing raw rice, eating brown rice with tekka sauce, chewing seven-flavor tea (a type of tea consisting of many types of roasted rice and beans, boiled in water, mixed by the seller himself from macrobiotic ingredients), eating kudzu sauce..., the child died.

Complete nutritional supplement to increase physical strength and resistance

Doctor Tran Duc Canh, Department of Endoscopy and Functional Exploration - K Hospital, emphasized that a complete nutritional menu plan will contribute to increasing physical strength and resistance for cancer patients and improving the effectiveness of treatment.

A healthy diet can also prevent the destruction of body tissues and help build new tissue.

Patients who eat well are also better able to tolerate the side effects of treatment, even at higher doses. In fact, some cancers respond better to treatment if they eat well, with adequate calories and protein.

Doctor Tran Duc Canh gives advice to patients undergoing treatment:

- Try new foods because some foods you normally don't like may taste good while you're on treatment.

- Choose a variety of plant-based foods. For example, eat beans instead of meat a few meals a week.

- Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables of different colors every day. Colorful fruits, vegetables, and plant foods are rich in natural health-promoting substances.

- Try to maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly. Weight may fluctuate slightly during treatment.

- Limit or reduce red or processed meats, sugary drinks, and other processed foods.

-Snack when needed

During cancer treatment, your body needs extra calories and protein to help you maintain your weight and recover as quickly as possible. If you are losing weight, adding extra snacks can help you maintain your strength and energy, and help you feel more comfortable.

Although snacks are a less healthy source of calories, they can still be used by cancer patients to meet their energy needs during treatment.

However, this only lasts for a short time, until the side effects of the treatment have gone, then you should return to a healthier diet. If the patient can still eat normally and maintain weight without snacking, then there is no need to eat such snacks. Try adding snacks to your daily diet by:

- Eat several small meals during the day.

- Have a variety of protein-rich snacks ready to eat, such as yoghurt, cereal and milk, half a sandwich, a bowl of porridge or soup, cheese and crackers.

- Avoid foods that may make the side effects of treatment worse. For example, if you have diarrhea, avoid popcorn, raw fruits, and vegetables. If you have a sore throat, avoid dry, rough, or acidic snacks.

- Try to eat high-calorie, high-protein foods at every meal and snack.

- Do some light exercise or take a walk before meals to increase your appetite.

- Drink high-calorie, high-protein beverages like milkshakes and canned liquid supplements.

- Drink water between meals instead of during meals. Drinking water during meals can make you feel too full.

- Try nutrition bars and nutrition puddings.

Don't forget physical activity

Physical activity has many benefits. It helps you maintain muscle mass, strength, endurance, and bone strength. It can help reduce depression, stress, fatigue, nausea, and constipation. It can also improve your appetite.

So aim for at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate activity, like walking, each week. Start slowly, maybe 5 to 10 minutes a day, and work up to 300 minutes a week when you can. Listen to your body and rest when you need it. Do what you can when you want.