Diet for chemotherapy

Chemotherapeutic treatment is used to suppress the growth of malignant cells in the body. This is a rather aggressive type of therapy that can cause many side effects: nausea, diarrhea, osteoporosis, anemia, deterioration of hair and nails, alopecia, etc. If we take into account the above, the chemotherapy diet should aim to reduce the adverse effects of treatment on the body, and also to restore and maintain defensive forces.

[1], [2], [3]

Diet during chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a huge burden on the body, because it is based on the use of drugs that are pernicious not only for malignant structures, but also for quite healthy cells. Damaging effect affects the condition of mucous tissues, hair, bones, hematopoietic system.

A well-chosen diet on treatment can help support the body's defenses, provide healthy tissues with the necessary nutrients. As a result of proper nutrition, side effects are significantly alleviated, new energy appears to overcome the disease - a strong organism is much easier to cope with the disease.

Dietary nutrition for chemotherapy can be divided into 2 options: diet during chemotherapy and diet in between courses.

During therapy, the diet is prescribed for relief and relief of side effects: dyspeptic disorders, loss of appetite, nausea, etc.

The diet between the courses of treatment is aimed at increasing the resistance of the body, on the accumulation of strength for further passage of therapy.

Diet for chemotherapy of malignant tumors

During chemotherapy, it is advisable to follow such principles of nutrition:

• Calculate calories and determine the patient's need for daily caloric intake, depending on his energy costs. If to speak easier, it is impossible to observe diet for weight loss while undergoing treatment. Food should be high-calorie to cover all the energy spent by the body.
• In order to prevent loss of appetite, you must immediately tune in to a certain, convenient for the patient, diet. That is, to eat at the same time, at regular intervals and only in a certain amount, while not eating and not feeling hungry. Meals, if possible, should be full, without "dry sandwiches" and harmful snacks "on the run."
• Food should be diverse, fresh, preferably freshly cooked.
• In order for products to be more easily absorbed by the body, it is necessary to refuse fried, fatty dishes, as well as from salt and pepper, semi-finished products, preservatives, smoked products.
• Sugar should be replaced with honey, or severely limit its amount. It has long been proven that malignant tumors feed on sugars. However, carbohydrates can not be completely excluded from the menu, because, otherwise, malignant structures will "remove" the missing energy from the muscle and other tissues of the body.
• Nutrition should be fully and rationally. On the rationality of nutrition, we'll talk separately later.
• In order to reduce the toxic load on the urinary system, it is necessary to take a sufficient amount of liquid - at least 2 liters per day. It is better if it is ordinary still water, but compotes, weak tea with milk, broth are allowed. The use of green tea, contrary to belief, is not welcomed - it is able to level the properties of the chemotherapy drugs.
• About alcoholic beverages in general it is better to forget - why add toxic substances to an already suffering organism? The ideal option, according to doctors, is 50 ml of natural red dry wine in between the courses of treatment. Vodka, beer and fortified wines are completely excluded.
• If the diet is chosen correctly, then there is no need for additional vitamin supplement supplements.

Diet with chemotherapy for lymphoma

Lack of immune protection is one of the consequences of lymphoma, a malignant lesion of the lymphatic system. The condition in some way aggravates and chemotherapy itself, which also depresses immunity. Because of this, patients with lymphoma are more prone to infectious diseases than others. For example, some microorganisms that for other healthy people do not present any danger, a patient with lymphoma can be provoked by the development of a serious infection.

What should be considered when making a diet for chemotherapy of lymphoma?

• Drinking regime. If you use water from wells or springs, then it must be boiled. It is not recommended to use water from the water supply. The ideal option is bottled water, as well as freshly brewed tea, compote or a decoction. If you drink juices, then it should be freshly squeezed fresh, prepared immediately before consumption.
• Milk products. Do not use unboiled or not pasteurized milk, as well as cottage cheese without heat treatment. Do not eat cheese with mold. You can: pasteurized milk, products from heat-treated cottage cheese (casseroles, vareniki, mousses, etc.).
• Meat and fish products. You can not eat fast food: shawarma, hot dogs, chebureks, etc. It is undesirable to eat in public canteens. All food should be perfectly fresh, with sufficient heat treatment. It is also necessary to refuse from salted and dried products, as well as from insufficiently roasted meat.
• Plant food. All plant products must be fresh, free of signs of mold, rot. You can not eat unwashed vegetables and fruits (including dried fruits), purchased salads. Heat-treated products are preferred.
• Flour and wares from it. Under the ban are purchased products with cream, icing, fillings, which have a limited shelf life. Bakery products should be fresh.
• Always check the expiration date of the products, regardless of what exactly you are buying. Do not buy unfamiliar products or those in whose capacity you doubt.

[4], [5], [6]

Diet for chemotherapy for lung cancer

All patients undergoing treatment with chemical products need to eat fully. This means that you should eat foods rich in proteins, vitamins and containing a sufficient number of calories.

You need to eat about five to six times in small portions. Dishes should be rich in calories and proteins - meat and fish dishes, offal, beans, nuts.

It is necessary to think about the optimal diet and follow it. They consume food at a strictly scheduled time, without waiting for a feeling of hunger. This regimen has a positive effect in various appetite disorders.

Sometimes it is difficult for a patient to take dense food: in such cases, all sorts of cocktails, broths, smoothies and cream soups are recommended. In any case, the patient must receive all the vital quantities of nutrients and calories.

Many advise to temporarily abandon the metal cutlery and go to plastic. This is due to the fact that some patients during treatment have a slightly unpleasant metallic taste in the oral cavity. Because of this, it becomes unpleasant for them to eat, appetite. If you go to plastic, these symptoms go away.

Dishes should be cooked as appetizingly and variedly as possible, mastering new and unknown recipes.

A good diet for chemotherapy for lung cancer is required to help the patient cope with the disease and repair damaged tissue. Insufficient and monotonous nutrition can provoke a deterioration of the patient's well-being and the appearance of undesirable side effects from treatment.

[7], [8], [9]

Diet after chemotherapy

The diet after chemotherapy, as well as during it, should be as rational as possible. What is rationality and what is it?

Rationality of nutrition implies a reasonable approach to the choice of products: in our daily menu there should not be one-sidedness. Food should contain all the necessary substances for the body: proteins, fats, carbohydrates. A person, and especially a sick person, must have meat, milk, vegetables, greens and fruits, bread and cereals.

Diet after chemotherapy should include several basic food kits:

• protein products - legumes, soy and nuts, as well as eggs, fish and meat products, by-products. Protein food contains proteins, vitamin B, iron. It is necessary to eat at least 2 servings of such products daily. However, it is also unacceptable to completely switch to protein foods, since this will put unnecessary strain on the urinary system and liver.
• Milk products - contain a large number of proteins and calcium. Cottage cheese, kefir, milk, hard cheese, cheese, etc. Such products should also be consumed at least 2 servings per day.
• vegetable food - any kind of greens, vegetables and fruits, both in the form of salads, and ragout, casseroles, pies and side dishes. In plant foods, there is all known fiber - the activator of the digestive system, as well as many vitamins and antioxidants. In bright representatives of the vegetable world - vegetables and fruits of yellow or red - contain bioflavonoids that provide regeneration processes in damaged cell membranes. Vegetable food should be present minimally in 4 meals daily.
• bread and cereals - bakery products, cereals supply complex carbohydrates and vitamins B to our body. From cereals it is advisable to prefer buckwheat and oatmeal: they should be eaten more often than other cereals. The cereals can be cooked for garnish, and also added to cereals, soups, casseroles, cutlets, etc. It is recommended to eat bread and cereals at least 4 times a day.

To maximize the rationality of food, it is necessary to add vegetable oils (if possible unrefined) to the dishes, fish oil, dried fruits, honey, sea kale, and the use of freshly squeezed juices is welcomed.

Diet after breast chemotherapy

Observe the diet is necessary both during and after chemotherapy of the breast. It is proved that a well-chosen diet eliminates the risk of a cancer tumor re-development, and also serves as prevention of excess weight, high blood pressure and diabetes mellitus.

By the way, the absence of extra pounds is a great chance to avoid the re-occurrence of cancer in the future. Given this fact, a diet after breast chemotherapy in some patients can be aimed at getting rid of excess weight.

Among the generally accepted advice on dietary nutrition after breast chemotherapy is the following:

• The daily amount of calories is calculated depending on the body weight: if there are extra pounds, the caloric content of the diet decreases;
• most of the main diet should be plant foods and cereals;
• it is useful to add bran and fiber to food;
• prefer vegetable oils;
• to eat foods rich in calcium;
• forget about alcohol and smoking;
• limit the consumption of sugar, salt, red meat and canned foods, as well as products with preservatives, dyes, flavors and stabilizers.

Pay attention to products containing omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, magnesium, folic acid, vitamin E, selenium.

[10], [11], [12]

Diet after chemotherapy and radiation

Chemotherapy, as we have already said, is considered a great strain on the body. This load increases many times if chemotherapy is performed along with radiation therapy.

What can be done to reduce the burden on the body?

• Often and gradually eat, using only fresh and healthy foods.
• Do not reduce the caloric content of the diet, do not allow the body to go into economy mode: eat nuts, sour cream, chocolate, honey.
• Before eating it is recommended to take a walk in the fresh air.
• Before eating, eat a slice of lemon (if there is no increased acidity of the stomach).
• Do not overeat and hunger.
• Remove from the diet useless sweets: cakes, cakes, sweets.
• The food should not be hot.
• Water and other liquid should be drunk 1 hour before meals, or 1 hour after eating.
• When eating, do not rush, chewing on food.

If diarrhea occurs on the background of treatment, then nutrition should be directed to the stabilization of electrolyte and protein metabolism in the body. Food is beginning to be cooked in a double boiler, when fed, it is crushed and wiped as much as possible in order to reduce the impact on the walls of the digestive system. Limit rough food, raw vegetables and fruits. The most acceptable dishes in this situation are cereal cereals (especially rice), rubbed soups, eggs.

It is recommended to drink a weak tea or non-carbonated mineral water.

[13]

Restorative diet after chemotherapy

Patients who have had to undergo chemotherapy should never forget about proper nutrition. A restorative diet after chemotherapy will help to strengthen a weakened organism. In addition, there are some products that prevent the re-development of neoplasms. Such products must be known "in person" and be sure to include them in the diet.

What should be included in the daily menu and what should I avoid?

• Bread and flour products. You can use: muffins, biscuits, crackers, shortbread cookies. Exclude: baking, products with fillings and creams, pancakes, dark bread.
• Meat products. It is advisable to use: low-fat boiled or steamed meat, meatballs, cutlets. To exclude: fat, fat parts of meat, fried meat dishes, canned meat, pelmeni and manti.
• A fish. It is advisable to use: low-fat steamed or boiled fish. Exclude: oily fish, smoked meat, fried, salted, dried fish.
• Eggs - chicken and quail. It is desirable to prepare a steam omelet. It is undesirable to fry and eat raw.
• Products from milk. Welcome: non-acid curd, yogurt, milk porridge. Not recommended: spicy cheese, too sour cottage cheese and yogurt.
• Fats. It is advisable to use: vegetable oils, a small amount of butter. Not recommended: spread, margarine, cooking oil, baked fat.
• Vegetables. It is advisable to use: any raw and fresh vegetables, as well as in boiled, baked and stewed. Undesirable: pickles, pickled and canned vegetables.
• Fruit. Welcome: any ripe fruit, both fresh and baked, boiled, as a puree and mousses, kissels and jams. Not recommended: unripe fruits, as well as rotten and unwashed.
• Sauces. Recommended: mild, on a milk basis, with greens. Excluded: sauces based on chili or vinegar, ready-made sauces (ketchup, mayonnaise).
• Beverages. Welcome: not strongly brewed tea, you can with milk, cocoa, fresh juices, compotes, jelly. Not recommended: soda, cola, kvass, strong coffee, alcohol, beer.

When chemotherapeutic treatment should not forget about compliance with the drinking regime. Drink a lot, about 2 liters of water a day (if there are no contraindications).

The diet menu for chemotherapy

Approximately compiled weekly diet menu for chemotherapy - the products are selected optimally and are aimed at eliminating the negative impact of chemotherapy on the body:

The first day.

• Breakfast. Orange fresh with biscuits.
• Lunch. A portion of millet porridge with raisins, a weak tea with oatmeal cookies.
• Dinner. Lentil soup, steam fish with vegetables, compote.
• Snack. A jar of yogurt, an apple.
• Dinner. Bean garnish with a chop, a cup of broth of a dogrose.

Second day.

• Breakfast. Pear juice, carrot.
• Lunch. Porridge on milk, oatmeal jelly.
• Dinner. Portion of pea soup, rice with shrimps, tea.
• Snack. 50 g of nuts.
• Dinner. Ratatouille with grated cheese, tea, a sandwich with cheese.

The third day.

• Breakfast. Banana, tea with lemon.
• Lunch. Portion of rice porridge with dried apricots, tea.
• Dinner. Beetroot soup with sour cream, potatoes with boiled fish fillets, tomato salad, tea.
• Snack. Fruit.
• Dinner. Cabbage rolls, weak tea.

Day four.

• Breakfast. Cocoa with milk and unsalted cracker.
• Lunch. Muesli with yogurt, biscuits, weak tea.
• Dinner. Celery soup, meatballs, salad from sea kale, a glass of compote from dried fruits.
• Snack. Cranberry with honey.
• Dinner. Puree from potatoes, fish, greens, tea.

Day five.

• Breakfast. Chamomile tea, biscuit.
• Lunch. Omelette with cheese, carrot juice.
• Dinner. Rassolnik with sour cream, pasta with chicken fillet, tea.
• Snack. Souffle of berries.
• Dinner. Portion of stewed cabbage with mushrooms, tea.

The sixth day.

• Breakfast. Cupcake with raisins, compote.
• Lunch. Champagne with honey, tea.
• Dinner. Chicken broth with vermicelli, stuffed peppers, tea with a slice of lemon.
• Snack. A little prune.
• Dinner. Cutlets, salad with cheese and tomatoes, tea.

The seventh day.

• Breakfast. Grapefruit juice, biscuits.
• Lunch. Fruit salad, yoghurt.
• Dinner. Cream-soup of pumpkin, chicken with buckwheat garnish, tea with milk.
• Snack. Cottage cheese with sour cream.
• Dinner. Baked fish with vegetables, tea.

Every day before going to bed it is recommended to drink a glass of fresh yogurt, milk or other dairy product.

Diet recipes for chemotherapy

Cutlets with chicken and vegetables

We will need: 350 g of chicken breast, 1 carrot, 100 g of broccoli (fresh or frozen), 3 tbsp. Spoons of tomato sauce, one medium bulb, one egg, salt.

Chicken meat and onions are passed through a meat grinder, add an egg, salt, mix. We divide into 3 equal parts.

Separately we grind carrots and broccoli. Carrots are added to the first part of the stuffing, broccoli - the second. In the third part, add the tomato sauce.

Minced meat is laid layer by layer in silicone or other forms for muffins. We put in the oven and bake until ready. You can serve with garnish or simply with greens.

Pumpkin cream soup

We will need: ½ kg pumpkin, 300 g potatoes, 1 large onion, 50 g celery (optional), 1 tbsp. A spoon of vegetable oil, 300 ml of milk, ginger, salt, crackers.

Vegetables finely chopped. First fry the onions, then the other vegetables. Pour boiling water, salt and cook on low heat until softening vegetables (about 20 minutes). Next, the decoction is drained, and the vegetables are ground in a blender to a creamy state. Dilute with hot milk to the optimum consistency and heat on the stove for 6-8 minutes. Add spices, mix.

When serving, sprinkle the cream soup with croutons and greens.

Ratatouille

We need: a couple of medium-sized zucchini, 4 small eggplants, 6 tomatoes, tomato paste, ½ onions, 3 cloves of garlic, salt, spices.

Eggplants cut into circles and salt, so that bitterness is gone. Zucchini and tomatoes are cut in the same way and also with salt. Add tomato paste garlic, spices and chopped onions. The form for the oven is greased with vegetable oil, then cooked with sauce, over it we spread vegetables alternately, it is possible vertically. After filling the form, sprinkle with spices and cover with foil for baking. We put it in the oven and cook at 150 ° C. When serving, sprinkle with herbs or grated cheese.

Buckwheat in the oven

We need: 1 cup of raw buckwheat, 1 glass of green peas, medium carrots, medium sweet pepper, 8-10 champignons, 4 cloves of garlic, greens, vegetable oil, spices.

Vegetables cut into squares, mushrooms - into 4 parts. Chop garlic and greens. Grain washed.

All put in a bowl, add spices and mix. Next, distribute the mass of pots for baking, pour clean cool water to the level of vegetables, on top - a couple drops of vegetable oil. We cover with lids and send it to the oven for 40-50 minutes at 200 ° C.

Bon Appetit!

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Reviews about the diet for chemotherapy

The majority of patients who have to undergo chemotherapy due to circumstances understand that compliance with the diet in this period is not just important: it is a necessary condition for normal well-being, effective treatment and further recovery.

From the responses on the diet for chemotherapy can draw the following conclusions:

• immediately before the procedure is not recommended, as well as coming to the procedure on an empty stomach. You can eat for 1-1 ½ hours before the session;
• well-being will greatly improve if you refuse from fatty and heavy meals, stop overeating and abundantly season your food;
• eat a little bit better, but more often than usual;
• try to listen to your body - sometimes he will tell you what you need to eat.

Do not forget about juices, especially vegetable. Tomato, beet, carrot juices are useful.

Diet with chemotherapy can be accompanied by eating disorders, increased dryness of the mouth, a violation of the function of taste buds. Do not worry: with proper nutrition after the course of treatment, all these signs will disappear.