In general, if the patient feels well, has not lost weight and does not have symptoms, there is absolutely no need to follow special diets or take supplements at the beginning of anti-cancer therapy.
However, if the patient’s state of nutrition is not as good as it should be, diets and supplements certainly play an important role.
Three simple signs can indicate whether diets and supplements are needed, even when the patient seems to be in good health:
- weight loss,
- reduced muscle mass and
- reduced appetite.
These conditions arise because of the aggressiveness of the cancer (pancreatic cancer is a classic case) or as a result of the side-effects of treatment, such as nausea, vomiting inflammation of the mucosae and diarrhea.
If the patient is unable to take in at least 60-80% of the calories she needs every day, it may be necessary to resort to oral supplements and, in some cases, even artificial nutrition by means of sacs of nutrients, which are administered intravenously in the day hospital or at home.
In other cases, the patient may not have the full-blown side-effects described above, but may experience alterations in the senses of taste and smell, which can reduce the appetite and, consequently, the normal intake of calories. Supplements can be very effective in correcting these disorders, allowing the patient to resume a normal diet.
Another situation in which supplements play a very important role is during the period before major cancer surgery. Indeed, it has been shown that administering pharmaconutrients and/or immunonutrients in the week before the operation reduces surgical complications.
In general, even if the patient shows no sign of an inadequate state of nutrition, the use of supplements (often suggested by relatives and friends) is not to be discouraged, and many patients report that they have had a decidedly beneficial effect.
Nevertheless, it is a great mistake to think that cancer can be treated by means of diets and supplements alone. Unfortunately, it is a mistake that some people make.
SUGGESTIONS TO MITIGATE UNPLEASANT TASTES DURING THERAPY
- have a good dental and mouth hygene
- mouthwashes with just water before eating
- use plastic or wooden cutlery if a metallic taste is present
- use aromatic herbs : basel, sage, mint, rosemary
- if there is no mouth inflammation , drink orange juice
- avoid smoking and coffee
- if even drinking water produces unpleasant tastes, use a little lemon juice or mint leaves. Try cold herbal tea or carbonated lemon and orange drinks instead of water.