As Oncology Dietitans, we work with patients all throughout the cancer continuum which includes pretreatment or the treatment planning phase of their care. We understand the importance of preparing for treatment, and want to share six of the most helpful ways to do that based on our years of experience helping others.
1. As best as possible, try to prepare your home and kitchen space for some hands off meals. By that, we mean having easy to throw together, heat up, consume meal and snack options that do not require much preparation or cooking time. After chemotherapy, not only are many patients too tired to cook, but they may also have smell aversions that interfere with their ability to be around the foods they normally know and love to cook. Having some options already made up can help combat this.
2. Inform yourself or ask your healthcare team of the most likely side effects that can come from your particular chemotherapy. Every treatment and person is unique, and it is important to understand the specific side effects you may experience. Knowing what to potentially anticipate can often times make this transitionary period more tolerable and allow you to help others when asked “what can we bring you.” Along those lines, we understand how daunting the information from online sources or from well-intentioned people can be. We urge you to inform yourself using trustworthy resources to avoid being misinformed which can cause more stress about who or what to believe. Oncology dietitians are qualified experts that provide you with both evidence and experienced based care.
3. Speaking of others, likely you will have an outreach of support from family, friends, church, community, neighbors, etc. This is not the time to be bashful. As much as possible, try to accept help and delegate responsibilities whenever and wherever you can. Not only will this allow you more time to rest (and eat), but will also allow others to feel involved in your care and that they are supporting you in any way possible.
4. How you go into treatment can significantly impact your tolerance and duration of the treatment related side effects. The few days before you are scheduled for a chemotherapy infusion or injection, try to increase your intake via nutrient dense food items such as healthy fats, adequate protein, and phytochemical rich plant based foods, as tolerated. By going into treatment well nourished, it is more likely that your system will have the best chance of using these compounds as building blocks to heal and make new, healthy cells.
5. Do not underestimate your body’s own detoxification systems. Just as preparing your body with adequate nourishment is important, as is preparing the body with adequate hydration – primarily through the consumption of plain, unsweetened liquids, primarily water. Unless you have been told to follow a fluid restriction, most oncologists recommend anywhere between two to three liters of water per day to ensure the liver and kidneys are able to clear out the chemotherapy and its’ by products from the body in an appropriate timeframe. Adequate hydration is crucial for maintaining the health of these detoxification organs, especially if a patient has been recommended to receive multiple treatment infusions over time.
6. Lastly, take each treatment as an opportunity to learn, but also as an opportunity to communicate with your healthcare team. Often times we refer to side effects as something that are cyclic in nature, and therefore predictable. By journaling your experience, positive and negative, and sharing these findings with your team, adjustments can be made to aspects of your care such as dietary recommendations, medications- including pre-treats, as well as other interventions.
At Cancer Nutrition Care, we hope you found these tips helpful and empowering. While we know nutrition is not the only part of a patient’s care plan, it is certainly a crucial and impactful part that we strive to assist with. If you have any questions or would like set up a consultation with one of our Board Certified Specialists in Oncology Nutrition, please visit our website.