The Wellness Community

The Wellness Community Nutrition Handbook

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Table Of Contents
Main Page Introduction Nutrition and Cancer - Guidelines The Three Different Stages in a Cycle of Nutrition and Cancer Nutrition During Treatment Specific Chemotherapy Agents and Nutrition Radiation Treatment and Nutrition Other Nutritional Ideas Some Important Reminders Herbs and Surgery Warnings Natural Energy Drinks Immuno-Soup Suggestions for Handling Problems During Treatment for Cancer Suggestions for Eating to Provide Maximum Immunity Dietary Fat/Omega-3 Fatty acids and Cancer Fat Content of Various Foods Digestive Enzymes Explained go

NUTRITION DURING TREATMENT

If you have been diagnosed with cancer, nutrition is one of the most important things for you to consider as part of your whole treatment regimen. Eating a healthy diet can make a big difference in the success of your treatment. A simple rule of thumb is to maintain a steady body weight throughout treatment as much as possible. This means neither gaining too much, nor losing too much weight (fluctuations of more than, say, 5lbs per week for an average sized adult). Balance your intake with physical activity to your own individual capacity.

Before Treatment:
Surgery: Eat a low fat (less than 25% calories), high protein (8-10oz lean meat, fish, chicken or turkey) diet the day before surgery.
Supplement with a broad spectrum multi-vitamin and mineral with 100% RDA. Additionally, 500 mg vitamin C with bioflavonoids every 8 hours may be beneficial to healing. Stop supplements of vitamin E, vitamin K, evening primrose, borage or fish oils supplements one week before surgery as these can cause thinning of the blood. See page 10 for more herbs to avoid prior to surgery.

Radiation: No special diet.

Chemo: Eat low fat, high carbohydrate diet the day before chemotherapy. No supplements on day of treatment.

During Treatment:
Surgery: As per surgeon's protocol.

Radiation: Extra carbohydrate calories for energy

Chemo: Avoid eating your favorite foods within 24 hrs of treatment to avoid negative associations with them at a later time. Eat a low fat (less than 3 tablespoons or 40 grams fat/oil per day), high carbohydrate (mainly complex carbohydrate (starch) from grains, fruits and vegetables) diet with small quantities of good quality protein. White meat chicken, fish and eggs are easy to digest. Protein powder based smoothies are also good. Avoid more than RDA amounts of antioxidant supplements.

After Treatment:
Surgery: High protein diet (8-10 oz lean meat, poultry, fish or 2-3 eggs) Regular supplements as above. Antioxidant supplement including 400 IU vitamin E and 1,000 mg vitamin C per day.

Radiation: High protein and energy diet. Lactose-free and relatively low in simple sugars (sucrose, honey) to avoid intestinal discomfort.

Chemo: Small, frequent meals of easy to digest foods such as fish, chicken, rice, baked potato, banana, apple sauce. Stimulate appetite with ginger ale. If weight drops rapidly add a smoothie (see recipes) and/or meal replacement type products. Avoid lactose as above.

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