Docyard | Managing weight is crucial for cancer patients

Often cancer patients and survivors do not consider weight management an important issue. However, these problems deserve complete attention from patients, doctors and survivors. Here are some FAQs you need to scroll through:

Why is it important to ensure you eat enoughIJ

It’s important to eat enough to be as healthy and strong as possible, especially during the course of your cancer treatment. You must consume enough fluids to stay energetic and feel good.

What can I do to ensure I eat enoughIJ

You need to ensure that your body gets enough nutrients. Try to follow the following:

• Eat 5 to 6 small meals a day, instead of 3 large meals.
• Eat healthy snacks in between meals.
• Add butter, oil, nuts, gravy, powdered milk, protein powder or cream to your foods to give them extra calories and protein.
• Fluids in between meal.
• Eat foods that smell good.
• Try to eat food with family or friends.
• nAsk people to cook for you.
• Take an hour long before you eat. It builds up appetite.
• Ask doctor if you should take vitamins or work out a diet plan.
• Tips for side effects from your treatment which is keeping you from eating:
• If you have a dry mouth, drink lots of fluids and avoid foods that are hard or dry (such as toast or crackers). You can eat moist foods, or suck on ice chips or sugar-free hard candy.
• If you have mouth sores, eat soft foods that you can chew and swallow easily. You can also cut up your food into small pieces or mash it in a blender. Try to avoid spicy or salty foods.
• If you have nausea, eat foods that are bland and dry, such as rice, curd and toast. Avoid foods that are spicy and greasy.
• If you have trouble having a bowel movement, try to drink more fluids. You can also eat foods with a lot of fibre, such as vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, oatmeal, and some breads and cereals.
• If you have diarrhoea, drink fluids. Avoid milk, greasy and fibre-ruch foods.

Are there medicines that can increase my appetiteIJ

Yes. Doctors can prescribe hormone medicines and steroids for a few weeks.

Weight loss after completion of treatmentIJ What to expect

Usually there is weight gain after completion of treatment but there might be certain malignancies, for instance, head and neck malignancies where there might be weight loss even after treatment completion. It is primarily caused due to dry mouth or difficulty in swallowing. Artificial saliva generation, good mouth care and dental hygiene help. Such patients should drink enough fluids and have puree-based diets.

Is there any weight gain during and after cancer therapyIJ

Patients having hormonal driven cancers like breast or prostate cancer gain weight during therapy. The repeated use of steroids in chemotherapy is responsible for the weight gain. Check should be kept on hypothyroidism and diabetes which is sometimes precipitated post radiotherapy. Cancer survivors should fill half their plate with fruits/vegetables and other half with grains/proteins.

How can regular exercise help meIJ

Regular exercise increases appetite, allays depression and decreases chances of constipation. But exercise to a level which does not let fatigue set in.

Managing Diabetes during and after treatment

Diabetes increases the risk of cardiovascular events and susceptibility to infections. Around 8-18% cancer patients have diabetes as well. Some tips:

• Hypertension is a common problem. Target blood pressure for patients with DM is <130/80 mmHg
• Monitor dyslipidaemia, especially those on hormone treatment.
• Chemotherapy-related neuropathy may worsen pre-existing neuropathy so you need to choose carefully.
• Risk of renal toxicity when receiving platinum-based therapies is higher for diabetic patients.