Cancer can affect eating habits in many ways. It might be completely different before, during and after treatments. The diagnosis can spark your motivation to eat healthy and modify your diet to include healthier choices. Or maybe just the opposite, you used to eat fairly healthy before, but now- fatigue, stress and anxiety send you straight towards the junk food aisle. Sometimes a diet modification becomes a necessity due to special dietary needs, like extra protein and more calories. Some side-effects of the cancer itself and cancer treatments, can lead to eating problems that require nutritional alterations:
- Appetite loss
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Weight loss
- Weight gain
and more.
Those various factors may have an impact on nutrient requirements and need to be taken into consideration when making food choices and planning meals. Whenever you are in your treatment journey, whatever your nutritional needs may be – discuss it with your healthcare team. A dietitian can help you with any diet changes you may need to make.
Have you received any nutritional consultation? Have you changed your eating habits after your diagnosis? Did you make any dietary modifications during and/or after treatments? What factors influenced those changes? Join Belong – Beating cancer together and share with the community.
