Question about post-chemo eating

Anonymous · November 2011

Dear all,

I was dx 9/29/11, had my first of 4 tx of AC then 12 of taxol. I'm on DD therapy. I eat nearly all organic, gluten-free, no sugar (refined or otherwise), nearly vegetarian (my naturopath said I need to get 50 g. of protein daily so I've been eating a little wild fish and free range organic chicken...till tx of over), lots of greens.

But my question is this: all the nutritionists suggest all these sugary, carb-y snacks to eat post chemo. I can't eat them. I've resorted to greek yogurt and applesauce, gluten free toast so far, but do you have any suggestions? I hate ice cream, and all the refined crackers/bread/pastries turn me off as do those Ensure shakes and all that. I've lost about 8 lbs since dx and tx (anxiety and then loss of appetite/quesiness after first chemo. I don't mind--my BMI is at 19 right now, so I'm okay...but what do you eat that is healthy and good for you, and won't feed cancer, that you can keep down after each tx? Thanks!

Claire

peggy_j · November 2011

I like the Cancer-Fighting Kitchen by Rebecca Katz. I'm not much of a chef so some of the recipes are a bit more work than I'm used to. But she also has a whole section of "anytime foods" (that you make ahead of time, like her curry hummus. Make it on the weekend and then you can make curry hummus wraps easily during the week). She also has a section on yummy smoothies. In the front is a section that discusses the cancer-fighting properties of diff. foods and spices. This cookbook was in my library so it was easy to try-before-you-buy. FWIW, my diet is similar to yours; mostly veggie + fish (for protein); avoiding dairy due to allergy; organic as much as possible.

Claire_in_Seattle · November 2011

Hi Claire,

I ate on the whole normally during chemo. However, I am a meat eater. That said, I wanted saltier foods than normal during AC.

So, I would eat a ham steak as opposed to a pork chop or smoked salmon as opposed to fresh. Then potatoes and other veggies. But peas as opposed to kale. Lots of potatoes.

I never did stuff like Ensure either. BLECH.

I tried to eat 80g of protein daily, but suspect I weigh a lot more than you do

Do you eat eggs?? Those were a godsend to me. Plus cheese.

Eat full fat yogurt and cheese. Those help. Suspect you need the calories. Can you eat non gluten pasta???

Pears were also a godsend. Sweet, and lots of fiber.

I think that what I am trying to tell you is that, even though I eat different things (meat, gluten products, sweets), I did eat real food during treatment. A bit differently, but real food.

So it is possible. Good luck. - Claire

dlb823 · November 2011

Of course, it will all depend on your taste buds and your tummy, but some of the things that worked for me were... baked potatoes topped with broccoli & cheese or maybe a bit of vegetarian chili; mashed pototoes; natural peanut butter (I like the honey roasted kind) on rice cakes; avocado on gluten-free bread or corn tortillas; Van's frozen gluten-free waffles topped with whatever fresh berries I had on hand; soups (lentil, split pea, chicken, vegetable, mushroom, were all good); and quesadillas (Trade Joe's blue corn tortillas work well). Recently (post chemo) I've discovered some really good gluten-free pastas that probably would have appealed during chemo, and there's a frozen gluten-free Mac & Cheese that I think also would have appealed. I drank a lot of carrot juice and ate frozen coconut bars when I craved something sweet.

Claire, if the queasiness stays with you, you might want to see if your onc can try a different nausea med. Many things may not appeal, but the queasiness shouldn't be ongoing. (((Hugs)) Deanna

Claire_in_Seattle · November 2011

Hi Claire,

I ate on the whole normally during chemo. However, I am a meat eater. That said, I wanted saltier foods than normal during AC.

So, I would eat a ham steak as opposed to a pork chop or smoked salmon as opposed to fresh. Then potatoes and other veggies. But peas as opposed to kale. Lots of potatoes.

I never did stuff like Ensure either. BLECH.

I tried to eat 80g of protein daily, but suspect I weigh a lot more than you do

Do you eat eggs?? Those were a godsend to me. Plus cheese.

Eat full fat yogurt and cheese. Those help. Suspect you need the calories. Can you eat non gluten pasta???

Pears were also a godsend. Sweet, and lots of fiber.

I think that what I am trying to tell you is that, even though I eat different things (meat, gluten products, sweets), I did eat real food during treatment. A bit differently, but real food.

So it is possible. Good luck. - Claire

Anonymous · November 2011

Hi all,

Thank you. I'm 5 9 and weigh 128--that's my ideal weight for me and have been there at times for years, but I gained 7 lbs this summer-- I want to stay there. Right now I'm not queasy--that left, mostly, after day 2 or 3 and I stopped the Zofran that day, too. During those times I ate greek yogurt (remembered your protein suggestion, Claire, and my naturopath said at least 50 grams), organic unsweetened applesauce, and I did eat peanut butter. Some GF toast. I did find chili at my natural foods store and it was really good 2 days after chemo.I missed my salads but was uneasy about eating them during that time since I didn't want that food association (see below).

Not really balanced, so I was trying to find some healthy options that avoid carbs and most sugar (god, it's in everything and called so many different names! cane sugar, maple syrup, honey, fructose, corn syrup, geez...but it all acts the same in your body). My naturopath suggested I avoid nearly all sugar since she believes it can drive cancer; it's not hard for me to avoid since I don't have much of a sweet tooth. I guess smoothies with unsweetened yogurt and frozen berries and protein powder (mine has sugar, I just checked!!) would be okay at times.

I'm not much of a dairy person but I will eat some cheese, too. The food I loved--rice chips, almonds--I ate too soon after my first chemo and now when I think of them, I still get a little nauseated. That's a weird thing: anything I ate during that day of chemo or immediately following--I think of it and get sick. What a powerful thing the mind is.

Anonymous · November 2011

Oh yeah, I forgot to address the egg thing: I can eat eggs and ate a lot of scrambled eggs post chemo. Surprisingly I have no association with them and queasiness so I guess I'll keep shoveling them down :>)

peggy_j · November 2011

claireinaz, the Cancer Fighting Kitchen discusses eating strategies (like avoiding your favorite foods during chemo so you don't develop a bad association). She also aims to be dairy and gluten free as much as possible and has a whole chapter on high protein recipes.

jla2000 · November 2011

Hi Claire,

I recently came across this website that offers a lot of information about healthy diet options, I've found it very helpful and you might too.... http://nutritionfacts.org/topics/cancer/

btw, it's science based and noncommercial.

Question about post-chemo eating

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