Nutrition and Sarcoma: Overcoming Roadblocks During Treatment ...

9:41 am in Cancer, Cancer Treatment, Coping, Nutrition, Sarcoma by Danielle Karsies, M.S., R.D., Lead Dietitian, Symptom Management and Supportive Care Program

Sarcoma is a term used to describe a whole family of cancers that arise in the body?s connective tissues, which include fat, muscle, blood vessels, deep skin tissues, nerves, bones and cartilage. Drug-related side effects for sarcoma often include nausea, mouth sores and lack of appetite that hinder one?s ability to consume adequate food and/or beverages.

Proper nutrition can help you tolerate treatments better, minimize complications and maintain a better quality of life.? Even if you are overweight, weight loss is not usually recommended during treatment. It boils down to being able to consume enough calories, protein and fluid to maintain your usual weight and muscle strength.

How can one continue to eat and drink sufficiently when appetite is poor or it is painful?

Nausea:

• Eat something every 2-4 hours to avoid an empty stomach.
• Eat bland, dry, salty and starchy foods as these are typically easy to digest. This includes toast, saltines, pretzels, rice, etc.
• Avoid foods with strong odors. Room temperature and cold foods may be better tolerated if aromas bother you.
• Consider using ginger to calm you queasiness such as ginger sodas, teas, candies or chewing fresh ginger root.
• Drink small amounts of fluid throughout the day. Dehydration can contribute to nausea or make your symptoms worse. Aim for at least 64-80 ounces of fluid per day.

Lack of appetite:

• Eat by the clock: set times to eat 3-5 times per day instead of letting hunger dictate when to have your meals.
• Eat the high calorie, high protein foods on your plate first. Save the low calorie foods such as fruits and vegetables for last if you still have room.
• If you are experiencing weight loss, try using the full fat, sugar versions of foods to increase calorie intake without increasing the amount of food you are eating. Examples include 2% or whole milk instead of fat-free milk or regular sour cream instead of light or fat-free sour cream.
• Consider drinking only fluids with calories and/or protein, such as milk, juice, Gatorade?, or popsicles instead of water to meet your fluid needs.

Mouth Sores:

• Eat soft, bland, room temperature or cool foods such as cream soups, scrambled eggs, custard, yogurt, hot cereal and milkshakes.
• Avoid foods and beverages such as acidic fruits, vegetables, and juices, lots of spices, crunchy or coarse foods, or carbonated beverages.
• Rinse often with baking soda mouth wash (4 cups water to 1 tablespoon of baking soda).

Are there other tips that you found to help during treatment? Please share in the comments.

Tags: cancer side effects, cancer treatment side effects, mouth sores, Nausea, nutrition, poor appetite, sarcoma

Source: http://mcancertalk.org/2871/nutrition-and-sarcoma-overcoming-roadblocks-during-treatment/

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