Partner content: Appetite During Cancer Treatment

Ask Leah! The Ingles Dietitian

Partner content: Appetite During Cancer Treatment

There are no hard and fast rules about eating when going through cancer treatment. How someone feels is going to depend on the type of treatment (chemotherapy, radiation, surgery), the type of cancer, the part of the body affected and how the person reacts to the treatment.

Some individuals may not experience any difference to their energy level, taste, appetite, or weight, while others may experience fatigue, weight gain, weight loss, sore mouth, and taste and appetite changes.

One thing that is very important is trying to maintain weight and being aware of weight loss that could jeopardize health and treatment.

Some of the recommendations from the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) are:

• Eat small meals/heavy snacks instead of 3 large meals/day.

• Make sure you have nutritious, high calorie foods available like meal replacement drinks or make smoothies.

Related Items

• Be aware that individuals undergoing cancer treatment may be sensitive to temperature and not want cold or hot foods.

• Taste changes make mean foods a person typically enjoys or eats may no longer be appealing.

For more information see: During Treatment - American Institute for Cancer Research (aicr.org)

Leah McGrath, RDN, LDN

Ingles Markets Corporate Dietitian

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800-334-4936

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