Is it possible to eat before chemotherapy? Effective methods of recovery after intensive chemotherapy

A balanced diet during chemotherapy and ovarian cancer is a necessary component of complex treatment. The diet for the patient is prepared taking into account her individual characteristics and the therapeutic recommendations of the treating specialists. Compliance with it speeds up the healing process, improves well-being, and restores the body’s strength to fight the disease.

Impact of cancer on vitamin and mineral requirements

During the course of any cancer, patients should reconsider their diet. This is due to changes in the body’s nutritional needs, the interaction of certain foods with medications, and the condition of internal organs, especially the digestive tract. Many people suffering from cancer also note a change in taste preferences, which also significantly affects their diet.

Weakness of the body during chemotherapy for a disease such as ovarian cancer forces you to follow a special diet. This is necessary to reduce the load on the digestive organs. By changing the menu, much of the body’s energy is not spent on digesting food - it is directed towards fighting the disease.

Increasing the priority of natural products

When planning a diet for ovarian cancer, preference should be given to natural products that do not contain food additives, dyes or preservatives. Such components in food can harm the body, slow down the digestive process, and interact with chemotherapy drugs taken.

The diet should contain a large amount of vegetables, fruits, freshly prepared lean meat and fish. This will enrich the body with the nutrients it needs. A healthy diet will prevent complications that can arise from eating fast food, alcohol, canned foods and other foods that negatively affect the gastrointestinal tract.

It is best to prepare juices, yogurts and other similar products yourself from natural fresh ingredients - fruits, vegetables, milk, etc.

These rules should be followed by all patients undergoing treatment for ovarian cancer with chemotherapy drugs. They will help stabilize the diet and normalize the functioning of the internal digestive and excretory organs.

• drinking water should be done half an hour before or an hour after meals - this will prevent bloating and speed up digestion;
• You should not deny yourself food when you have an appetite or if you want to eat a specific product that will not cause harm - perhaps in this way the body is trying to compensate for the lack of nutrients;
• the optimal diet is 5-6 times a day, in small portions, at the same time;
• the last dinner should be no later than 2 hours before bedtime;
• You should carry fruits or dried fruits with you - they will save you from hunger if it is impossible to eat a full meal;
• if constipation occurs, it is necessary to increase the amount of fiber-rich fruits;
• all prepared dishes should be tasty - this is important for patients with loss of appetite.

During chemotherapy courses, you should avoid eating foods you are trying for the first time - this will prevent possible bloating and food poisoning.

Meals are mandatory even during attacks of nausea - they are a source of strength necessary for the body. Prolonged fasting can lead to exhaustion and deterioration of well-being, and will reduce the effectiveness of treatment.

Read also Stage 3 ovarian cancer

If you have severe nausea and lack of appetite, doctors recommend following some tips:

• sucking a slice of lemon before eating will reduce the likelihood of vomiting, reduce nausea and increase appetite;
• eating foods at room temperature - hot or cold foods irritate the walls of the stomach, which can provoke a new attack of nausea;
• before a course of chemotherapy, a light snack is allowed - a hearty lunch will increase the side effects of the drugs;
• taking ginger tea is allowed in the absence of stomach diseases, reduces nausea.

After prolonged loss of appetite as a result of exposure to drugs, the diet should be restored gradually. Dishes should be as easy to digest as possible, and portions should be small.

Healthy foods

Some types of foods must be included in the patient’s diet. They are considered the most beneficial for the body and are optimal for use in this pathology. After the patient begins to eat properly, tumors often slow down their growth, and chemotherapy for ovarian cancer will help to eliminate them more completely.

Groups of products that must be consumed:

1. Vegetables and fruits. Rich in vitamins and minerals, fiber. With their help, the balance of nutrients is quickly restored and digestion is normalized. Your diet should include vegetables and fruits of different colors - green, yellow, red, orange. You need to eat at least 6 types of fruits per day.
2. Protein. Their use is necessary, since it is protein that is building material involved in the process of tissue regeneration. Its sufficient content in food improves immunity and reduces the risk of anemia. Your daily diet should include lean meat, fish, seafood or eggs. Food containing them should be eaten at least 2 times a day.
3. Dairy and fermented milk. They contain a large amount of calcium; fermented milk products improve the condition of the digestive organs and prevent constipation. It is best to eat them separately from other dishes, as a snack.
4. Beverages. Regular teas and coffee should be replaced with herbal infusions, chicory and natural fruit drinks. They contain a large amount of useful substances, and herbal drinks have a healing effect.
5. Cereals and legumes. The best option is considered to be a breakfast containing cereals - oatmeal, bulgur, buckwheat and other cereals are suitable for this. Cereals and beans can also be used as side dishes for meat dishes. They are rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals.

If you have diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, you should avoid eating legumes, fresh vegetables and fruits in large quantities.

Prohibited Products

During chemotherapy for ovarian cancer, a special diet involves the complete exclusion of certain foods from the diet. Dishes that do not cause serious harm to the body are allowed to be consumed very rarely and in small quantities - this is possible in the absence of contraindications and in normal health.

Read also Methods of chemotherapy for ovarian cancer

Products excluded from the patient's diet:

• fresh pastries, bread;
• canned foods, including homemade preparations with the addition of vinegar;
• fatty, salty, smoked, fried;
• dishes with a lot of spices;
• candies, chocolate;
• fatty meats and fish, broths based on them;
• semi-finished products, fast food;
• alcohol.

The list of prohibited foods increases in the presence of diseases of the liver, kidneys, digestive organs and other pathologies, the course of which is influenced by the quality of food consumed.

Sample menu for the week

To compile a weekly diet, you need to keep a special notebook. It should take into account recipes for prepared dishes and their components, and the volume of portions eaten. During the week, you need to eat as many different vegetables, fruits, meats and cereals as possible.

Sample menu for 7 days:

1. Breakfast – freshly squeezed fruit juice, omelette, green tea, bread with butter. Lunch – vegetable soup with black bread, beet salad with prunes, fruit juice. Dinner – salad with greens and avocado, herbal tea. At night - milk.
2. Breakfast – orange juice, stewed zucchini with sour cream, green tea. Lunch – vegetable cabbage soup, rye bread, eggplant caviar, baked pollock, jelly. Dinner – vegetable salad, green tea. At night - kefir.
3. Breakfast - salad with Chinese cabbage, chicory, bread. Lunch – onion soup, rye bread, stewed liver with carrots, fruit juice. Dinner – beans with vegetables, cottage cheese casserole, fruit drink. At night - yogurt.
4. Breakfast – fresh grapefruit, vegetable salad, buckwheat with carrots, chicory. Lunch – borscht without meat, black bread, salad with cabbage and apples, fruit. Dinner – millet milk porridge, dried fruits, fruit juice. At night - yogurt.
5. Breakfast – orange juice, boiled potatoes with green onions, tea. Lunch – vermicelli soup, asparagus salad, apple and celery salad, berry juice. Dinner – salad with radishes and cucumbers, green tea. At night - milk.
6. Breakfast – berry juice, rice porrige with dried fruits, bread, tea. Lunch – vegetable soup, rye bread, cheese salad with tomatoes, fruit. Dinner – beetroot salad with nuts, black bread, tea. At night - yogurt.
7. Breakfast – freshly squeezed juice, beans in tomato sauce, green tea. Lunch – tomato soup, boiled fish, bread, fruit. Dinner – steamed eggplants, boiled breast, tea. At night - kefir.

Properly selected nutrition for breast cancer in women plays an important role in the complex treatment of this serious illness. A therapeutic diet means including the most healthy and vitamin-rich foods in your diet.

In particular, it is important for patients with oncology to know what nutrition should be like during breast chemotherapy and after it.

Every year, millions of women face this terrible disease. Due to the fact that the oncological process is an extremely severe pathology, its treatment requires an integrated approach, including chemotherapy. The drugs used are extremely aggressive not only to malignant cells, but also to healthy ones, so such treatment places an extreme burden on the body, especially if it is carried out simultaneously with radiation therapy.

Causes a number of complications:

1. The condition of hair (alopecia) and nails worsens.
2. Osteoporosis develops.
3. There is nausea.
4. Diarrhea appears.
5. Signs of anemia appear.
6. Disturbance of the hematopoietic system.
7. Mucosal tissues are damaged.

With cancer, a person rapidly loses weight. This is due not only to a lack of appetite: this is how the body reacts to the presence of cancer cells in it. With severe weight loss, you should give preference to foods that:

• Normalizes balance in the body as much as possible.
• Will normalize metabolic processes.
• It will nourish it with microelements and vitamins.

However, when undergoing chemotherapy, not only rapid weight loss can be observed, but also a rapid increase in body weight, which is completely undesirable for breast cancer. In this case, the diet should include foods that:

• Speeds up metabolism.
• Reduces appetite.
• Promotes weight loss.

For such a clinic, the menu should consist of the following products:

• Sea fish.
• Seafood.
• Poultry meat.
• Legumes and peas.
• Whole grain and bran bread.
• Brown rice.
• Cereal porridge.

Women who have been prescribed chemotherapy ask how much water should they drink per day? Doctors specify whether to drink water and other liquids 1 hour before meals or an hour after them. The daily volume of fluid should be at least two liters.

If you are overweight, you should not eat the following foods:

• Red meat.
• Flour products.
• Fresh bread and pastries.
• Sugar.
• Candies.
• Breakfast cereals.

All food should be prepared by steam, boiled and stewed methods, which do not require the use of oil and fat.

A properly designed menu can help reduce side effects after chemotherapy. Unfortunately, there is no such miracle product that would cure cancer and stop malignant processes. However, a balanced diet significantly reduces their activity and the negative manifestations of chemistry, and strengthens the sick body.

How to eat when sick:

1. Eat small portions 5-6 times a day.
2. Food should be high in calories.
3. Eat food only warm.
4. The morning menu should be more nutritious.
5. At lunchtime and in the evening, give preference to light dishes.
6. Develop an optimally convenient diet.
7. Do not overeat, you need to eat at the same time.
8. Avoid on-the-run snacks and dry sandwiches.
9. Eat only freshly prepared food.
10. Use high-quality products to prepare dishes.

The daily amount of calories is calculated based on body weight. So, if you are overweight, the diet is made up of low-calorie foods.

How to help yourself with side effects after chemotherapy?

If you experience symptoms such as nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy treatment, you should contact your doctor, who will recommend antiemetic medications. In this situation, the following help well:

• A slice of frozen lemon.
• A piece of ice.
• Frozen cranberries.

Place it in your mouth and suck it slowly. Unpleasant symptoms can be easily alleviated by a salted tomato or cucumber or a cracker. If you feel very sick from foreign odors, it is not recommended to be in the kitchen while preparing food.

For constipation, add laxative products to the menu:

• With vegetable fiber.
• Legumes.
• All types of nuts.
• Prunes.
• Brussels sprouts.
• Pear.
• Apples.
• Banana.

If you have diarrhea, you need to eat foods rich in soluble dietary fiber and sodium, avoid fried and sweet foods, and reduce your intake of dairy and products containing plant fiber.

Features of diet during chemotherapy and radiation

The diet for breast cancer chemotherapy is prescribed to stop and reduce the severity of complications:

1. Dyspeptic disorders.
2. Decreased appetite.
3. Manifestations of nausea.
4. Development of constipation or diarrhea.

Reducing the amount of food consumed during the treatment course leads to weight loss and significantly disrupts the vital processes in the body, which is why it has to be interrupted. Therefore, it is important to establish, the essence of which is as follows:

• Prevention of further weight loss.
• Maintaining a woman's overall strength.
• Increased body resistance.

Nutritionists on developing a diet for cancer patients emphasize:

1. Meals should be small and at least 5-6 times a day.
2. Preference should be given to liquid or pureed dishes.
3. Always have light snack foods (fruits) on hand.
4. High-calorie foods (nuts) must be present.
5. Drink enough water between meals.
6. Use products from the list of specialized nutrition for cancer patients.

List of mandatory foods that should be present in the diet during chemotherapy:

• Dairy. They contain calcium and vitamins necessary to restore a weakened body.
• Meat and fish. Rich in protein, iron and B vitamins.
• Seafood. Useful during chemotherapy (you need to eat 200 g of food in this category every day).
• Flour and cereal products. Contains carbohydrates and vitamin B.
• Vegetables and fruits. The plant fiber and vitamin complex present in them improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Healthy fruits include citrus fruits and apples, rich in ascorbic acid, green vegetables and broccoli, an isothiocyanate that inhibits the development of cancer cells. Yellow vegetables have many anti-carcinogenic substances. IN dietary nutrition Red fruits and vegetables must be present.

To improve appetite and the functioning of tactile and olfactory receptors during chemotherapy, the menu should include dishes with a pleasant smell and appearance that can increase appetite.

A huge problem for all patients with cancer is the development of metastases that affect neighboring healthy organs. Metastasis is prevented by:

• Garlic.
• Yellow vegetables.
• Black currant.
• Lemon.
• Rose hip.
• Beet.
• Tomatoes.
• Pumpkin.
• Carrot.

A properly structured healthy diet helps neutralize the side effects of chemotherapy.

Recovery diet after chemotherapy

Nutrition after chemotherapy for breast cancer is aimed at recreating damaged cells and strengthening the patient’s strength for further treatment.

The degree of influence of the chemotherapy method is selected for each patient individually. After treatment with chemotherapy, complications are often observed:

• Increased dry mouth.
• The appearance of multiple ulcers in the oral cavity.
• Increased viscosity of saliva.
• Pain in the larynx.
• Difficulty swallowing food.
• The appearance of infections.

Nutrition is selected based on the degree of damage:

• Oral cavity.
• Stomach.
• Throat.
• Intestines.

The psychological, emotional and physical state of the woman is also taken into account.

Nutrition after chemotherapy for cancer patients must include:

• Fats.
• Squirrels.
• Carbohydrates.
• Microelements.
• Vitamins.

They must be present in the volume necessary for the regeneration of damaged cells and restoration of immunity.

A weekly menu for a woman with breast cancer is developed individually, taking into account her state of health and is aimed at maximizing the elimination of the negative effects of chemotherapy.

We offer a sample menu for several days.

First day

Second day

The third day

In addition, immediately before going to bed, the patient should drink any milk drink, for example, a glass of fermented baked milk, kefir, and so on.

So, what can you eat before and after chemotherapy and what can you not eat if you have breast cancer? The main food for patients with breast cancer are products of plant origin. Only they contain the necessary minerals and vitamins in the quantities required for life. First of all this:

• Vegetables.
• Fruits.
• Berries.

In this case, an indispensable condition is: the products must be fresh and clean. The diet should definitely include freshly prepared juices in large quantities because they contain antioxidants that protect the body from harmful oxidation, which is of paramount importance in oncology.

To achieve a positive effect, you need to take juices for a long time, for 4 weeks, observing the following rules:

1. Every day you need to drink at least 2 glasses of natural juice.
2. You should start with 1/3 cup, diluting the juice with water.
3. Gradually increase the volume of the drink to the required norm.
4. If there are no contraindications, the juice can be consumed undiluted.

Therapeutic possibilities of juice therapy:

• Restores hematopoiesis.
• Prevents the development of anemia.
• Improves intestinal function.
• Increases appetite.
• Activates the liver and kidneys.
• Strengthens the immune system.
• Reduces the likelihood of allergic reactions.

Properly selected juices can help restore lost vital energy:

• Apple-pumpkin.
• Carrot.
• Carrot-pumpkin.
• Apple-beetroot-carrot.
• Beetroot-cucumber-carrot.
• Grapefruit-orange.
• Lemon-orange.
• Pomegranate.

The presence of drinking water is important, which should always be available to the patient throughout the day, regardless of the stage of the disease. Water, as a natural liquid, helps remove toxins from the body.

Some products may be useful both for the purpose of prevention in case of suspected development of benign tumors into malignant neoplasms, and in the postoperative period after removal of the mammary gland.

Strict adherence to the prescribed diet significantly reduces the likelihood of developing secondary cancer, as well as the following pathologies:

• Obesity.
• Diabetes.
• Hypertension.

In addition, the diet should contain:

• Fish and meat dishes with the addition of various sauces.
• Pasta and rice with liquid.
• Muesli with yogurt.
• Eggs.
• Various nuts.
• Vegetable oil.
• Cod liver.
• Fish fat.
• Salmon.
• Herring.
• Red caviar.

From vegetables:

• Pumpkin.
• Zucchini.
• Watermelon.
• Cucumbers.
• Tomatoes.
• Beet.
• Radish.
• Eggplant.
• Ginger.
• Greenery.

Among the useful fruits are:

• Peach.
• Kiwi.
• Grapefruit.
• Bananas.
• Oranges.
• Dates.

Oncologists emphasize that kiwi, bananas, various jelly and oatmeal, as they partially mitigate the manifestation of a burn of the esophagus.

Healthy drinks to drink:

• Warm or hot tea (green) with lemon.
• Natural diluted juices.
• Decaffeinated coffee.
• Kefir.
• Yogurt.
• Milkshakes.

What foods should you avoid?

According to scientists, the development and growth of a malignant tumor in the female breast is facilitated by an excessive amount of so-called carcinogens present in preservatives, food coloring, flavoring additives, and so on, so this group of products should be completely excluded from the diet of a cancer patient.

During and after chemotherapy, as well as after surgery, patients with breast cancer need to avoid a number of foods. In particular, it is prohibited:

• Dried fruits.
• Drying without liquid.
• Fried foods.
• Smoked meats.
• Mushrooms.
• Highly fatty foods.
• Chips.
• Rich black tea.
• Spicy seasonings.
• Strong caffeinated coffee.
• Alcohol and tobacco products.
• Margarine and butter.
• Black chocolate.
• Ginseng root tea.
• Home and store-bought canning.
• Concentrated store-bought juices.
• Carbonated drinks with coloring.

A proper diet is the first step to recovery, so nutrition before and after chemotherapy should be taken seriously.

Recipes for healthy dishes for breast cancer

To prepare this recipe you will need:

• Pumpkin – 500 g
• Potatoes – 300 g
• Onion – 1 pc.
• Celery (optional) – 50 g
• Vegetable oil – 1 tbsp.
• Milk – 300 ml.
• Ginger - to taste.
• Rusks - to taste.
• Salt - to taste.

How to cook:

1. Finely chop the vegetables.
2. Fry the onion.
3. Fry the remaining vegetables.
4. Bring water to a boil, pour over vegetables, add salt and cook over low heat until softened, about 30 minutes.
5. Drain the vegetable broth and puree the vegetables in a blender.
6. Heat the milk and pour into the puree, stir to the desired consistency and simmer for 8 minutes.
7. Before serving, sprinkle with breadcrumbs and herbs.

To prepare buckwheat porridge you will need:

• Buckwheat – 1 glass.
• Green peas – 1 cup.
• Carrots – 1 pc.
• Bell pepper – 1 pc.
• Vegetable oil - to taste.
• Garlic – 3 cloves.
• Greens - to taste.
• Salt - to taste.

How to cook:

1. Cut vegetables into cubes.
2. Chop garlic and herbs.
3. Rinse the buckwheat.
4. Combine all ingredients, mix, add salt.
5. Transfer the finished mixture into baking pots.
6. Add cool water so that it is at the same level as the vegetables.
7. Add a few drops of oil.
8. Cover the pots with lids and place in the oven for 50 minutes at 200 degrees.

For this dish you will need the following products:

• Chicken fillet – 350 g
• Broccoli – 100 g
• Tomato sauce – 3 tbsp.
• Carrot – 1 pc.
• Onion – 1 pc.
• Egg – 1 pc.
• Salt - to taste.

How to cook:

1. Pass the meat and onions through a meat grinder.
2. Add an egg to the minced meat.
3. Add salt and stir.
4. Divide the resulting mass into 3 parts.
5. Separately mince broccoli and carrots.
6. Place prepared carrots in one part of the minced meat, broccoli in the second, and tomato sauce in the third.
7. Place each type of minced meat in layers in muffin tins.
8. Bake in the oven until done.

To prepare a healing drink you will need:

• Juicy beets – 1 pc.
• Carrots – 2 pcs.
• Potatoes – 1 pc.

How to cook:

1. Wash and peel medium-sized beets.
2. Also wash and peel the carrots and potatoes.
3. Pass the prepared vegetables individually through a juicer or grate them and then squeeze through cheesecloth.
4. Measure out the resulting liquids, taking into account that you get 1/2 cup each of beet and carrot juice.
5. Combine all three types of juice.

Use warmed 30 minutes before meals.

Conclusion

In women with breast cancer who have had to undergo chemotherapy, the stomach and digestive tract are primarily affected, so returning to a normal diet will be very difficult.

Oncological process of any localization and severity requires the use of special antitumor medications. In addition to their main purpose - to suppress the growth and reproduction of cancer cells, they have an extremely negative impact on the overall health of a person. For cancer patients, special nutrition is required after chemotherapy. Drawing up a diet in this case requires special knowledge - it is necessary to take into account not only the preferences of the patient himself, but also the peculiarities of the digestive system in this difficult situation.

About how to eat during the course -.

Principles of diet after chemotherapy

As such, specialists have not developed special diet therapy for patients undergoing chemotherapy. Menu design should be based on the following principles:

• quite high calorie content of dishes - at least 2600–2800 kcal/day;
• careful balance in the content of the main nutritional components - proteins and fats, as well as carbohydrates;
• maximum saturation with vitamins and beneficial microelements;
• variety - dishes should stimulate the appetite, while satisfying the need for meat, fish, vegetables and fruits;
• fragmentation - it is recommended to eat food in small portions, but often, at least 5-6 times a day;
• maintaining a water regime - drinking at least 1.5–2 liters of purified water per day, acceptable in combination with tea, juices, compotes, fruit drinks.

At the same time, experts recommend that throughout the rehabilitation period you eat in such a way that the reserves of strength in the body are restored evenly - it is not advisable to adhere to any special diet. In case of cancer, it is advisable to avoid preservatives, sugary-sweet foods that aggravate the feeling of nausea, caffeine and alcohol-containing products in the diet.

Oral hygiene is no less important - you need to rinse it after every meal. After all, cytostatics have an extremely negative effect on local immunity; its parameters are significantly reduced. And pathogenic microorganisms are able to actively reproduce. To prevent this from happening, it is enough to accustom yourself to such a rule as a clean mouth after eating.

The right products

Bananas and oranges, baked potatoes and apricots help replenish depleted potassium and magnesium reserves. It is better to season all salads with olive oil - it has long been valued by doctors for its healing properties. Natural oxidants - substances that increase the body's immune barriers - are turmeric and bay leaf, cardamom and cinnamon, cloves and sage, thyme and rosemary. Therefore, their presence in the daily diet is only welcome, in small quantities.

What foods are best to avoid?

Since chemotherapy in any form negatively affects all structures responsible for the absorption of nutrients in the human body, the list of dishes that can aggravate the situation is quite large.

First of all, experts point out that all those who like to cheer themselves up with a cup of coffee in the morning will have to switch to less harmful varieties of tea - green, with the addition of citrus fruits or herbal decoctions. Alcoholic products are completely prohibited.

Fatty, fried foods, preservatives and so-called semi-finished products also overload the digestive tract. They force the already weakened liver cells to work harder, which is manifested by increased nausea, heartburn, and bitterness. Honey and artificial sweeteners are not recommended - they force the pancreas to produce additional insulin, which, in turn, provokes the growth of atypical elements.

When chemotherapy damages the oral mucosa, hot, spicy, and sour foods act as additional traumatic factors. The best option is pureed soups and porridges at room temperature, cottage cheese and yoghurts.

Temporarily, until diarrhea stops, it is recommended to give up fatty meats and poultry, fish and fresh bread, as well as rich broths and whole milk. They are allowed to be eaten after the activity of the intestinal loops is corrected by the body’s own defenses.

Possible digestive disorders can be caused by any offal, mushrooms, legumes, cabbage and radishes, as well as tomatoes and peppers, garlic and spinach. It is also recommended to refrain from using them.

Nutrition depending on the complication

Chemotherapy, even if its effect was aimed at organs located below the belt, one way or another affects the functioning of the digestive system. Therefore, depending on the complications that arise after the administration of cytostatics, experts recommend the following diet:

1. For pain in the oropharynx or the formation of ulcerative defects, warm green tea and non-acidic juices are the best drinks. It is better to cook thoroughly minced meat and moderately fatty fish, eat everything warm, a better dietary option, eat soft, non-acidic fruits and vegetables. It is better to avoid tomatoes and caffeinated drinks. As well as from spices and seasonings.
2. If you have problems swallowing both solid and liquid food, the principles of nutrition are different. So, if you have difficulties with solid food, the diet should consist of light watery soups, cereal flakes, filled with a large volume of milk. Soft, well-cooked vegetables and crushed bread products - cookies, crackers, bagels - are excellent. If there is a problem with consuming liquid dishes, it is recommended to use natural thickeners - gelatin or corn starch. It is better to cook thick soups and make purees from vegetables. Grind the fruits and add the yoghurts to the curd mass.
3. If there is dryness in the mouth and viscosity of saliva, the diet should contain protein dishes: rabbit meat, turkey, fish of various varieties, as well as pasta and cereals, fruits and vegetables with high content moisture, for example, peaches and watermelon, oranges, zucchini. Prohibited: chips and dried fruits, pretzels and cookies, as well as cakes and dried meats. As for drinks, it is better to give preference to hot tea with a drop of lemon, diluted juices.

If you experience frequent nausea, it is necessary to analyze the situation and identify the foods that provoke it. After eliminating them from the diet, the problem can be dealt with.

Physical changes after chemotherapy and diet during them

If, after a course of cytostatics, a person notices alarming weight loss, the basis of his diet should be high-calorie foods - fish and meat, legumes and eggs. It is recommended to add various oils to dishes, especially olive oil, cheeses and fatty dairy products. Sweet fruits and baked goods, as well as confectionery and juices help increase appetite parameters.

If you gain weight, which is also quite possible after chemotherapy, it is better to replace red meats with lean fish, skinless poultry, as well as legumes and cereals. Preference should be given to bran and whole grain products, as well as brown rice. Exclude all types of confectionery products from the diet, as well as sweetened breakfast cereals. Prepare dishes in ways that do not require the addition of oils - bake, boil, use a double boiler.

Of course, after chemotherapy, the principles of nutrition change somewhat, and more effort is required. However, a person’s well-being, the speed of his recovery and recovery directly depend on the adequacy of the intake of all the substances it requires. Therefore, you should be guided by these priorities: healthier eating means a quick victory over cancer.

Loss of appetite begins on the day of the procedure and lasts for several days. For poor appetite, food products are indicated that, with a minimum volume, allow you to get the maximum amount of nutrients (nuts, honey, whipped cream); they should be eaten between meals. Food should stimulate appetite. It is advisable to use pureed soups, as they contain more protein. Low-fat meat and fish broths are shown. In the absence of diseases of the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract, it is allowed to use seasonings that stimulate appetite: pepper, mustard, as well as an infusion of wormwood herbs, trefoil leaves, centaury, oregano. Pickled, sour and salted vegetables, as well as sour juices: lemon, cranberry, currant, help improve appetite.
Treatment with many anticancer drugs is often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. To reduce nausea, follow these recommendations:

• Do breathing exercises in the fresh air (on the balcony or with an open window).
• Before breakfast, suck on a piece of ice, a slice of frozen lemon, sour plum, cherry plum, cranberry, lingonberry.
• Eat dry foods on an empty stomach: crackers, bagels, toast, cookies.
• Eat small meals throughout the day to prevent your stomach from becoming full.
• Avoid foods that have a specific taste, and do not eat foods with a strong odor.
• Eliminate fried, especially fatty foods, dairy sauces, and whole milk (they can be reintroduced to the diet when the nausea passes).
• Don't eat sweet foods.
• Avoid eating excessively salty, spicy and hot foods.
• Avoid drinking liquids during meals to avoid filling your stomach.
• Drink cold, unsweetened drinks an hour before meals.
• Eat slowly so that large amounts of food do not enter your stomach at once.
• Avoid eating immediately before the drug is administered.

Another unpleasant consequence of taking some anticancer drugs is stomatitis- damage to the oral mucosa, leading to inflammation, and in severe forms - to painful ulcers and infections. The likelihood of developing stomatitis is reduced by constantly observing the following rules:

• rinse your mouth with a dental elixir (Pepsodent, Elhadent, etc.);
• lubricate lips with greasy lipstick (for men - colorless hygienic lipstick);
• cool the oral mucosa with a piece of ice;
• avoid irritation of the oral cavity with spicy foods, hot, sour and salty foods, as well as vegetables and fruits with a high acid content (tomatoes, grapefruits, lemons, sour apples);
• rinse your mouth after eating with a soda solution (1/2 teaspoon of soda per glass of water), saline solution (1 teaspoon of salt per 1 liter of water), as well as infusions of chamomile, sage, oak bark, and St. John's wort.
• After the acute symptoms of stomatitis subside, use soft food. Prepare stewed and boiled dishes. It is advisable to consume more fluids (up to two liters per day).

Cells of the gastrointestinal tract are very vulnerable to the toxic effects of some chemotherapy drugs. Their damage leads to frequent and loose stools (diarrhea).

Treatment with an appropriate diet is aimed at restoring water-mineral, vitamin and protein balance. In this case, the main condition must be observed: food should be as gentle as possible on the intestinal mucosa, products should be easily digestible and subject to appropriate cooking (cook in water or steam, eat mashed), with a limited content of carbohydrates and fats.

Eliminate from food: fatty meats, fish, smoked meats, marinades, canned food, hot spices and vegetables that irritate the intestinal tract (radish, onions, radishes, garlic, legumes, sorrel, spinach, sour varieties of berries and fruits), fresh whole milk, soft bread, confectionery products.

Recommended dishes of soft consistency, warm or at room temperature, in small portions. Useful foods include rice porridge, oatmeal, mashed cottage cheese, soft-boiled chicken eggs, vegetable soups, bananas, mashed apples, mashed potatoes with water, and boiled mashed pumpkin. Juices, jelly, mousses made from blueberries, bird cherry, chokeberry, and black currant are effective.

Should be taken more liquid. Drink warm or at room temperature, as hot or cold liquids only make diarrhea worse. You can drink mineral water without gas. Decoctions of dried pear, rose hips, pomegranate bark, St. John's wort, burnet roots, and green apple peels are useful.

If there is a large loss of fluid, you can prepare the following drink: add to a liter of boiled mineral water
1/2 - 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 4 teaspoons sugar.

It is quite rare for patients to experience constipation while taking chemotherapy drugs. But, if they occur, it is recommended to drink a glass in the morning on an empty stomach. cold water or fruit juice (peach, plum, apricot) or a hot lemon drink, eat grated carrots, an apple, 5-7 prunes, poured boiling water in the evening.

It is necessary to include foods rich in fiber in the diet; boiled beets and dried fruit purees have a positive effect. Soups and borscht in vegetable broth are useful first courses.

For constipation, exclude smoked meats, pickles, marinades, cocoa, chocolate from the diet, and limit the consumption of fried foods and sausages. There is less bread and bakery products made from premium wheat flour, pasta, and semolina dishes. You should avoid spicy foods, as well as products containing tannins (strong tea, cocoa, decoctions, jelly). Contraindicated: onions, garlic, radishes.

If the liver is damaged, it is recommended to exclude fried, spicy and salty foods from the diet, avoid eating fatty meats and fish, marinades, smoked meats, mushrooms and foods rich in cholesterol (brains, egg yolks, fish and mushroom soups, broths). During an exacerbation period, it is not recommended to eat radishes, turnips, rhubarb, onions, beans, and peas. Recommended: vegetarian soups, borscht, cabbage soup, milk soups; from second courses: steamed meat and fish cutlets, boiled lean meat, poultry. The menu includes boiled vegetables (carrots, beets, cauliflower, pumpkin, zucchini), as well as ripe fruits, baked apples, fruit and berry juices. Milk porridges are recommended: oatmeal, rice, semolina with raisins or honey, lactic acid products (yogurt, kefir, fermented baked milk, acidophilus, yoghurts, low-fat cottage cheese).

If kidney function is impaired, a low-protein diet with a sharply limited amount of salt is prescribed. Dairy dishes are recommended, including cheeses and curd spreads. First courses include borscht, beetroot soup, vegetable cereal soups without hot spices. Meat consumption is limited. Raw vegetables are especially useful: carrots, white cabbage, fresh cucumbers, fresh green peas, parsley, small quantities of green onions, etc.

Shown are fruits and berries, juices, jelly, compotes, rosehip decoction, cranberry juice. It is advisable to avoid eating regular bread (i.e. with salt), meat, fish and mushroom broths, as well as sausages, sausages, pickles, marinades, mushrooms, horseradish, mustard, chocolate.

For cystitis caused by chemotherapy drugs, you need to drink plenty of fluids. Milk, tea with milk, and alkaline mineral waters have beneficial effects. Watermelons and melons are especially useful. Alcoholic drinks, spicy foods, sauces, seasonings, smoked foods, and canned fish are not recommended.

Modern methods of treating oncological processes of any severity and localization involve special antitumor drugs (cytostatics). Despite the adequacy of modern chemotherapy protocols for a specific type of tumor, which determine the optimal doses/regimes of use of chemotherapy drugs, it is not possible to avoid their negative impact on the patient’s condition.

The most common complications of chemotherapy are:

• Metabolic disorders (changes in protein/fat/carbohydrate metabolism), contributing to a decrease in the total intake of food nutrients and the development of nutritional deficiency (weight loss by 5%) or anorexia-cachexia syndrome (by more than 10%).
• (decreased appetite, aversion to food, change in taste, uncontrolled nausea/vomiting), bowel disorders, depressive states. The digestive tract suffers especially severely - hemorrhages develop in the mucous membrane, the absorption capacity of the intestine and the digestibility of food nutrients are impaired.

Properly organized nutrition after chemotherapy for cancer patients, especially in the early period, is a main component of patient rehabilitation. Therefore, the main task of the recovery period of cancer patients after chemotherapy is to restore the patient’s nutritional status, eliminate protein-energy deficiency, cleanse the body of protein breakdown products, prevent/treat immunosuppression, and improve the quality of life of patients. Exactly proper nutrition can minimize the side effects of cytostatics and speed up the rehabilitation period.

Nutrition during chemotherapy has a major impact on a patient's nutritional status after chemotherapy. Diet during chemotherapy is aimed primarily at preventing loss of protein and body weight, since the incidence of nutritional deficiency in such patients ranges from 46-88% (with lymphoma , sarcomas various localizations, hemoblastoses , leukemia ), reaching maximum manifestations in the form of anorexia-cachexia syndrome. For this purpose, the proportion of foods containing protein in the diet is increased at the rate of 1.5-2 g/protein per kg of body weight, and the energy needs of the diet are increased at the rate of 35-55 kcal/kg/day in the form of dietary meats and dairy products , legumes, sea/river fish, eggs, nuts, soy products.

The diet for chemotherapy of malignant tumors to adequately replenish energy costs should contain a sufficient amount of simple/complex carbohydrates (honey, bread, legumes, cereals), various fruits and fats (unrefined vegetable oils, fish oil, nuts). It is especially important to include in the diet foods rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (sprouted wheat grains, fish oil, red caviar/fish), which have an anti-inflammatory/immunomodulatory effect. In order to prevent dehydration and water-electrolyte imbalance, especially in cases of uncontrolled vomiting, constant correction of free fluid intake is necessary.

The emphasis in this period should be placed not so much on increasing the volume of food, but on the inclusion of high-calorie foods in the diet (red fish/caviar, cream, sprats, creams, pates, eggs, chocolate, nuts, honey) and the frequency of their intake, especially during inter-course periods. periods, eating at any desire to eat. Since chemotherapy is accompanied by a lack of appetite, the diet should be as varied as possible both in the range of products and in taste, which is achieved by including spices, garden herbs, sauces, and lemon juice in the diet.

The diet after chemotherapy and radiation irradiation of any organ (pelvic organs, breast, skin, thyroid gland and others) is determined by a number of factors, namely:

• presence/absence of protein-energy deficiency and body weight deficiency;
• the presence of specific complications;
• rehabilitation period (early/late period).

As such, there is no special diet plan for patients undergoing chemotherapy. Rather, we can talk about an individual approach to each cancer patient and about the general principles of organizing therapeutic nutrition, the main of which are:

• caloric content of dishes at the level of 2700–2800 kcal/day in the absence of body weight deficiency and 3500–4000 kcal/day in the presence of it;
• balanced diet in terms of the content of basic nutritional nutrients;
• increased content of vitamins/microelements in the diet;
• variety of dishes and tastes;
• fractional meals 5-6 times a day in small portions;
• compliance with the water-drinking regime (1.5-2 liters of free liquid per day).

The diet of such patients should contain sufficient quantities of dietary meats/poultry, sea/river fish and seafood, cereals and legumes, eggs and dairy products, fruits/vegetables and berries, dried fruits, nuts/seeds, and fortified drinks. The listed products will allow you to obtain the physiological norm of all basic food nutrients and saturate the body with vitamins/microelements.

To improve appetite and the function of olfactory/tactile receptors, it is recommended to introduce into the diet foods/dishes that stimulate appetite and have a pleasant aroma and varied taste, using various marinades, snacks, seasonings, spices, sauces, and garden herbs.

If nausea occurs, you should suck on a slice of lemon, cranberry, or a slice of pickled cucumber on an empty stomach. After a course of chemotherapy, you should avoid participating in food preparation if possible.

It is strictly not recommended to overload the digestive tract in the early period, for which fatty, fried foods, canned foods, smoked foods, solid animal fats, semi-finished products and products containing food additives, caffeine-containing and alcoholic beverages should be excluded from the diet.

If complications such as dryness and ulcerative stomatitis food is prepared by steaming/boiling and serving dishes in a pureed state or thoroughly crushed to achieve maximum sparing of the esophageal mucosa and gastrointestinal tract. Spicy, salty, hot, sour and dry foods are excluded from the diet. The diet should include slimy soups, steamed meat cutlets, steamed omelettes, porridges, jelly and dairy products. Fried/whole-piece foods, bread, hot sauces and spices, hot/cold foods are excluded.

When it appears in the diet, it is necessary to increase the proportion of foods containing a lot of plant fiber, limit sweets, fried and dairy foods. For constipation, the diet should contain foods that have a laxative effect (vegetables/fruits, legumes, prunes, beets, nuts, banana). It is mandatory to take medications containing a set of vitamins/minerals. In the longer term, the diet is based on the principles of rational nutrition, taking into account the patient’s condition.

Authorized Products

Dietary nutrition after chemotherapy includes the following in the diet:

• products containing complete, easily digestible animal/vegetable proteins - dietary meat (lean beef/veal, chicken, turkey, rabbit meat), river/sea fish, legumes, chicken eggs, nuts, dairy and soy products;
• cereal products and dishes (grain bread, porridge, brown rice, wholemeal bread);
• products containing unsaturated fatty acids (unrefined vegetable oils, fish oil, red fish);
• vegetables (asparagus, zucchini, broccoli, beets, carrots, cauliflower, potatoes, eggplants, kohlrabi, garden greens, wheat sprouts, tomatoes, cucumbers);
• fruits/berries - apples, bananas, pears, tangerines, strawberries, grapes, raspberries, peaches, apricots, melons, watermelon;
• beekeeping products, seeds, dried fruits;
• dry/fortified wines to stimulate appetite (in quantities of 20-30 ml);
• from drinks - herbal teas based on chamomile, sage, nettle, mint, rosehip decoction, green tea, still mineral water.

Table of permitted products

Fully or partially limited products

The diet after chemotherapy includes the exclusion/limitation of such foods as:

• red, fatty, fried meat and meat products (smoked sausages, smoked meats, ham), animal fats, butter cream;
• hard-boiled eggs, salty and spicy foods, canned fish, fresh bread;
• vegetables that promote flatulence and fermentation in the intestines: lentils, peas, beans, red capsicums, garlic, onions, soybeans, cabbage, red capsicum vegetables;
• unripe fruits with hard skin: oranges, currants, plums, gooseberries, lemons, grapefruit;
• highly carbonated drinks and mineral water, caffeine-containing drinks (strong tea/coffee, Fanta), alcohol-containing drinks.

Table of prohibited products

Menu (Power Mode)

The menu/diet after chemotherapy is determined by the condition of the cancer patient, the presence/absence of underweight, specific complications and is compiled individually.

To improve appetite, it is recommended to introduce foods/dishes into the diet that stimulate appetite and have a pleasant aroma and varied taste, using various snacks, marinades, garden herbs, seasonings, spices, and sauces.

Advantages and disadvantages

Results and reviews

Dietary nutrition after chemotherapy is, according to cancer patients, an effective way of rehabilitation.

• « ... During the examination, cancer of the right breast 8*8 (ductal invasive carcinoma) of the 1st stage was revealed, the hormone is highly sensitive. A course of chemotherapy and hormonal treatment was prescribed. After chemotherapy I felt extremely bad - nausea, vomiting, depression, I couldn’t even look at food, let alone eat it. Weight loss developed - 4.5 kg, they said that they would force-feed her through a tube with special mixtures. After three days of formula feeding, I switched to independent nutrition - a high-calorie diet. I ate often, but little by little, the foods were very high in calories, and I drank a lot of fluids. After 2 weeks, the condition stabilized and appetite began to appear. The weight loss was eliminated only after 1.5 months of enhanced nutrition. Now the state is normal, there is a desire to live, work and raise grandchildren»;
• « ... Cancer of the upper lobe of the left lung, stage I, was operated on six months ago and underwent 2 courses of chemotherapy. They did not prescribe any special diet, but recommended a high-calorie diet. In addition to his traditional diet, he consumed butter, red fish, chicken, honey, dried fruits, nuts, cream, vegetables and fruits. After 1.5 weeks, my condition returned to normal and I was discharged home, but I continue to eat an enhanced diet until I gain my weight back».

Diet price

The set of products after chemotherapy varies depending on the patient's condition. Inclusion in the diet (if necessary) of energy-intensive products (caviar/red fish, cream, honey, etc.), which are relatively expensive and increases costs from 2800 rubles for a physiologically complete diet to 4500 rubles per week with enhanced nutrition.