Appetite Changes
Why Do Appetite Changes Happen?
You may lose your appetite due to cancer treatments. Nausea, problems or pain in your mouth and throat that make eating painful, and certain drugs that may cause you to lose your taste for flavor, are all things that may lead to appetite changes. Feeling run down or depressed may also lead to changes in your appetite. These changes may last for 24 hours, a couple of weeks, or up to a few months.
Even if you don’t have an appetite or suffer from pain in your mouth or throat, it is important to eat properly. Try to maintain a diet that provides great sources of protein, vitamins, and calories. Getting the right nutrients helps your body fight infection and repairs the tissues that may be damaged by your treatments .
Ways to Manage Appetite Changes:
- More frequent, smaller meals. Try to eat five or six smaller meals and snacks during the day instead of three large ones
- Set a daily meal schedule. Create a meal schedule for yourself and your caregiver, and stick to it. This will ensure you’re getting enough nutrients, calories, and protein during treatments
- Liquid meals. If solid foods become difficult to eat and digest, try soups, shakes, smoothies, and juice. Liquid meals will help provide the proper nutrients, calories, and protein during treatments
- Plastic utensils. Some chemotherapy drugs may give you a metallic taste in your mouth. Plastic forks and spoons help reduce that taste
Be sure to discuss the right diet for you with your healthcare professionals before treatments. Depending on the chosen course of treatment, they may recommend specific foods high in protein and calories. They might also recommend nutritional supplements.
If you find that you are losing weight and cannot eat for long periods of time, speak to your healthcare professionals, as they may give you drugs to increase your appetite or recommend receiving nutrition through an IV or feeding tube.
This information does not replace advice from your doctor. Talk to your doctor about your symptoms and any health or treatment questions that you may have.
