Managing Side Effects
Lack of Appetite:
- Eat frequent, small meals throughout the day.
- Set a daily schedule for eating meals and snacks. Eat when it is time to eat rather than wait until you feel hungry. You may not feel hungry when you undergo treatment, but you still need to eat.
- If eating solid foods is a problem, drinking milkshakes, smoothies or soup may be better tolerated.
- Take advantages of times when you feel well and have a larger meal.
- Sip only small amounts of fluid with meals as large amount of fluids can fill you up quickly. Drink fluids between meals.
- Choose high calorie foods to optimize your intake.
- Liquid nutrition supplements may be helpful as snacks or meal replacements
Sore Mouth and Throat:
Mouth sores and tender gums can be a result from chemotherapy or radiation. Discuss this side effect with your doctor who can prescribe medications to help control the pain.
Certain foods can irritate your mouth and make chewing or swallowing more difficult. Using a blender or food processor may be useful to change the consistency of your food.
Maintain good mouth hygiene and rinse mouth after each meal or snack.
- Avoid acidic foods: citrus foods, tomatoes
- Avoid spicy foods
- Crunchy, hard foods may be harder to chew
- Smaller utensils and straws can make eating easier
- Add gravy, sauce, butter or margarine to food to moisten for easier swallowing
Try soft foods that are easy to chew or swallow:
- Milkshakes
- Bananas, apple sauce and canned fruit
- Watermelon
- Cottage cheese and yogurt
- Mashed potatoes or noodles
- Macaroni and cheese
- Custards, puddings and gelatin
- Scrambled eggs
- Oatmeal and cooked cereal
- Soft cooked vegetables
- Soft, ground or pureed meat
