in treatment

Cancer treatment is tough business, both physically and emotionally. Learn about different treatments, how they affect how you feel, and how you can stay connected to your family and friends.

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Why nutrition is important

Nutrition and therapy

Proper nutrition is important for all young people, but especially so for you while you receive cancer therapy. This is because many things related to your illness itself, as well as your treatments, can affect your appetite and ability to tolerate foods as well as your ability to use the nutrients in the foods you eat.

The effects of cancer and cancer therapy on a person's nutritional state is different for every individual. A dietitian can help determine your specific nutritional goals and an approach to eating that meets these special needs.

By eating well, you can stay stronger, tolerate your treatments and their side effects better, and continue to grow and thrive. Eating well means eating a variety of foods to get all the essential nutrients for growth, plus additional things you need to help fight your illness. Essential nutrients include protein, carbohydrates, fat, water, vitamins and minerals.

Nutrition basics

It's important to understand each nutrient, along with the different methods of getting the nutrition that you may need, such as oral, tube feeding, or total parenteral nutrition.

Nutrients

Protein
Protein is an essential nutrient needed for growth, repair of body tissue, and to maintain your immune function. Not getting enough protein can slow your recovery from illness and decreases your resistance to infection. During illness, your need for protein often increases. While you are having cancer therapy, you may need as much as 50 percent more protein than usual, or 1 1/2 times as much protein needed by someone your age who is not receiving cancer treatments. This is because after surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, more protein is usually needed to heal healthy tissues, and to help prevent infection.

Carbohydrates and fats
Carbohydrates and fats are the body’s major energy (calorie) sources. An individual’s calorie needs mostly depend upon his or her age, size, and level of activity. In addition, having enough calories is especially important for infants, children, and adolescents to promote proper growth and development. Patients having cancer therapy often need more calories to support healing of healthy tissue, and to maintain strength. While you are having cancer treatment, you may need 20 percent more calories than usual, or 1 1/5 times the amount of calories needed by an average person of your age.

Vitamins and minerals
Vitamins and minerals serve many important functions in the body. Many are essential for proper growth and development, and to help your body use the energy in food. Usually, enough vitamins and minerals can be obtained if you eat a balanced diet, and if you are getting enough calories and protein. However, it can sometimes be challenging for a patient receiving cancer treatment to get enough vitamins and minerals if appetite problems persist for a long time. If it's not possible to get adequate nutrition, a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement that meets 100 percent of your needs for these nutrients can be prescribed by your physician.

Water
Water and fluids are very important for your body. If fluid intake is low, or you are having vomiting or diarrhea, you can become dehydrated. Being dehydrated may make you feel listless (tired) or dizzy. Ask a physician, nurse or registered dietitian how much fluid you need every day to prevent dehydration.