Cancer treatment creates a cruel irony for patients: just when their bodies need more nutrients to fight the disease and recover from treatment, eating becomes one of the biggest challenges they face. Chemotherapy, radiation, and other cancer treatments can turn favorite foods into unpalatable options while simultaneously increasing the body’s nutritional demands, putting cancer patients in a difficult position.
Sarah Washburn, a dietitian with UCLA’s cancer center, sees this struggle daily among her patients. Treatment side effects wreak havoc on taste buds, appetite, and digestion, making proper nutrition feel like an uphill battle when patients are already fighting for their lives. Washburn explains that the entire digestive system changes during treatment, affecting how the body absorbs nutrients. Stress and elevated cortisol levels from dealing with cancer can also interfere with digestion, diverting circulation away from the gut and making nutrient absorption even harder.
Despite these challenges, getting adequate nutrition remains crucial for treatment success. A well-balanced cancer diet focuses on preventing malnutrition, supporting immune function, and promoting well-being throughout the treatment process. The body needs extra fuel to protect healthy cells while destroying cancerous ones, and proper nutrition can reduce treatment side effects while speeding up recovery times.
Washburn recommends focusing on nutrient-dense whole foods rather than processed options. She suggests reaching for foods in their natural form, like fresh produce, lean proteins, and unprocessed grains, which provide concentrated nutrition without unnecessary additives that might further upset sensitive stomachs. Patients are encouraged to picture food straight from the farm or garden rather than from a factory production line.
Gut health becomes especially important during treatment since the digestive tract handles nutrient absorption. Washburn suggests incorporating fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains that feed beneficial gut bacteria. Probiotic foods such as yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut can also help, though patients should check with their doctors before taking probiotic supplements since some treatments work better with them than others. Hydration also plays a role, since water supports digestion and overall health.
One of Washburn’s favorite recommendations is preparing soups and stews, which can be practical for cancer patients. These meals combine hydration, warmth, and nourishment in a form that’s gentle on digestion. Their rich, savory flavors may also help rekindle appetite in patients who have lost interest in eating, while the convenience of making them in batches lightens the burden of meal prep.
Portion control plays a role as well. Instead of serving large amounts that may feel overwhelming, Washburn advises offering smaller, lighter dishes. This could mean quick meals like a little tuna salad with crackers or a bowl of yogurt with fresh fruit, which provide solid nutrition without making patients feel pressured to eat more than they can handle. The key message for cancer patients struggling with nutrition is flexibility.
Food preferences and tolerances will likely change during treatment, and that’s normal. Focusing on manageable, nutrient-dense options rather than perfect nutrition can make the difference between getting adequate fuel for healing and giving up on eating altogether.
As companies like Calidi Biotherapeutics Inc. (NYSE American: CLDI) work to develop and commercialize cutting-edge cancer treatments, the role that proper nutrition plays in supporting the treatment process needs to be emphasized since a holistic approach to treatment gives better outcomes.
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