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Last Updated: Dec 27th, 2006 - 19:07:47 |
A balanced diet helps the human body function. This is especially true for people with cancer. A healthy diet helps people maintain their strength during treatment and maximizes their quality of life. The main goal for people who are undergoing radiation therapy is to maintain their weight.
In general, there is no special diet that needs to be followed during the course of radiation therapy! As long as one is consuming a diet balanced in all four of the basic food groups (fruits and vegetables, meats, dairy, and grains), vitamin and mineral supplements are not necessary.
In fact, antioxidants like Vitamin E should be avoided during the course of treatment because theoretically, antioxidants interfere with the mechanism of radiation therapy's action. Therefore, people who normally take antioxidants should refrain from doing so during the course of treatment; they may resume the latter any time after treatment has been completed.
However, if an individual is malnourished, whether from the illness or treatment related complications, it is reasonable for him or her to take one therapeutic multivitamin with minerals per day. A high calorie, high protein diet is also appropriate.
Intentional weight loss (dieting) is not encouraged during radiation therapy, as changes in a person’s anatomy that accompany weight loss might offset the measurements and treatment planning that ensures that radiation therapy is administered properly.
If symptoms occur during the course of treatment, dietary modifications are implemented. In addition to following the recommended dietary changes, a consultation with a registered dietician and prescription medication (for entities such as dry mouth, anorexia, nausea, diarrhea, anxiety, infection, or pain) might become necessary.
Side effects from radiation therapy are confined to the body site that is treated. People who undergo radiation therapy to the head and neck area might develop a dry mouth, mouth ulcers and/or a sore throat. Very hot and very cold food and beverages should be avoided. A soft diet, accomplished by eliminating hard foods such as pretzels, bagels, and crackers and by blenderizing, pureeing, or chopping food, is recommended. Medications containing alcohol, like cough syrup and commercial mouthwash, as well as acidy foods such as salad dressing, vinegar, tomato sauce, and citrus, should be avoided. Spices should also be eliminated. High calorie, high protein liquid supplements are beneficial.
Difficulty swallowing because of inflammation of the esophagus, the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach, is fairly common during radiation therapy to the chest area. The aforementioned dietary changes apply to this situation, too.
Radiation therapy to the abdomen can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Pelvic area radiation therapy can also cause diarrhea.
To reduce nausea and vomiting, the consumption of frequent, non-aromatic, appetizing appearing small meals, instead of three large meals per day, is advised. Diarrhea
is managed with a bland, low-fiber, starchy diet.
Under normal circumstances, people should ingest a high-fiber diet which includes copious fruits and vegetables, wheat, and other grains; however, radiation therapy induced diarrhea mandates that these foods be avoided until diarrhea resolves.
Foods to substitute are plain or toasted white bread, bagels, baked or mashed potatoes, and bananas. No fried or greasy foods should be eaten.
The good news is that almost all the time, these temporary side effects resolve within the first few weeks after radiation therapy has been completed, and people may then resume their regular diets.
Dr. Kornmehl is a board certified radiation oncologist and author of the critically acclaimed consumer health book, "The Best News About Radiation Therapy". Her website is www.RTSupportDoc.com.
Copyright 2005 by Carol L. Kornmehl. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be copied or reproduced without express written consent of the author.
© 2004-2005 by foodconsumer.org unless otherwise specified
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