Monday, September 20, 2010

Important Nutritional Tips For Mesothelioma Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy is one of the main treatments that cancer patients can to treat the disease. It involves the use of anticancer drugs to kill the cancer cells, however normal cells are also destroyed in the process.

This destruction of cancer cells leaves the body in a weak state. In addition, chemotherapy has a number of side effects, such as nausea. If cancer patients do not eat properly, they can become malnourished and pass away not from cancer, but from an infection or other illness in their weakened state. These are some tips to improve the nutrition of patients undergoing chemotherapy:

1-. Chemotherapy can cause anorexia{poor appetite} so choose foods that really pack a nutritional punch, so when you do eat, even if it is just a small amount, you are consuming nutritional foods high in protein and calories. Keep healthy snacks with you at all times. You should also consider adding daily multivitamin to boost your diet, but you must discuss this with your doctor before you add them.

2- Unfortunately, chemotherapy can also cause constipation and diarrhea - sometimes both in the same patient. To avoid these problems, drink plenty of fluids and avoid anything with caffeine. You may also want to cut most of the dairy out of your diet. Foods with good soluble fiber, such as mashed potatoes and bananas, can also be added to your diet to help with constipation and diarrhea.

3- One of the best ways to boost your diet during chemotherapy is to add as much protein to your diet as possible. Proteins, such as those found in meat, nuts and beans, can help you feel better during treatment, and can help fight cancer more effectively. Even if you do not care for meat or are dealing with anorexia, there are many ways to add protein to your diet. Here are some great tips for integrating protein whenever possible:

* When making pasta, add a beaten egg at the last second. As you stir, the heat will cook the egg, adding a great source of protein.

* Eat peanut butter with fruit.

* Add extra beans to soups and other dishes.

* Add powdered milk to recipes like muffins, mashed potatoes, and meatloaf.

* Prepare protein drinks and keep them with you all day, so you can get protein even just a sip at a time.

* Nuts are a great protein-enriched snack to carry with you throughout the day.

You can talk to a dietician about more ways to add protein to your diet.

4-In addition, if you're dealing with anorexia, your should add many calories to your diet to keep up strength. Some of the best ways to do this include:

* Spread butter or margarine on crackers.

* Stir unsweetened whipped cream into mashed potatoes.

* Add honey to cereal or desserts.

* Sprinkle granola into yogurt.

* Choose dried fruits as a healthy snack, and add them to meals or baked goods when possible.

A mesothelioma patient should seek to know as much as possible about the different methods of treating the disease so that they can cooperate maximally with treatment.



Bello Kamorudeen.http://www.mesotheliomacorner.blogspot.com

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