Overcoming 5 types of nutritional disorders in chemotherapy patients & bull; hello healthy

In general, cancer sufferers experience dietary changes caused by changes in the way they metabolize nutrients such as protein, carbohydrates and fats. In addition, cancer treatment such as chemotherapy methods will affect the activity of the digestive tract organs, especially the stomach and intestines, to absorb food nutrients. This causes the body to have difficulty meeting adequate intake and causes individuals who are undergoing chemotherapy to experience malnutrition.

Meeting the needs of various nutrients from food and water is the key to successful cancer treatment. Especially in chemotherapy patients, adequate nutrition is needed to help regenerate tissue and cells that have been damaged during illness and during the healing period. Nutritional deficiencies are one of the obstacles to recovery and treatment of cancer patients because they prevent the patient's body from getting the intake it needs, and will make the patient's body weaker and become more susceptible to infectious diseases.

Here are some nutritional disorders that often occur in chemotherapy patients

1. Anorexia and cachexia

Both are eating disorders as well as nutritional disorders that can trigger other nutritional disorders in chemotherapy patients. Patients who experience anorexia or loss of appetite are caused by some side effects of chemotherapy, such as tongue irritation which changes the taste and aroma of food to a bitter taste. As a result, chemotherapy patients avoid consuming various foods and cause their bodies to lack the various nutrients needed for healing.

The condition of anorexia in someone who is undergoing chemotherapy is also often accompanied by cachexia, which is characterized by drastic weight loss and decreased muscle mass. This condition is more common in chemotherapy patients in lung, pancreatic, and upper digestive tract cancers. This condition is difficult to improve, therefore the management of patients with this condition needs to be done early.

Tips for dealing with conditions of anorexia and cachexia in cancer sufferers

• Overcome changes in taste in food by adding some natural cooking ingredients such as chili powder, onions and garlic, soy sauce, sauces and herbal leaves such as oregano and mint.
• Maintain oral hygiene to reduce discomfort when eating food by brushing your teeth and cleaning the tongue regularly.
• Serve the food at room temperature to make it easier to eat.
• Increase consumption of fresh fruit that contains lots of water such as grapes, oranges, and watermelon and serve cold.
• If chemotherapy patients do not want to eat large meals, serve snacks or snacks throughout the day to keep the stomach filled.
• Fulfill your calorie and protein needs by serving foods with processed teur, peanut butter, cheese, tuna and chicken, as well as several types of drinks such as ice cream, pudding, and liquid nutritional supplements.
• To overcome excess weight loss, treat digestive disorders such as nausea, diarrhea, and constipation, and treat dehydration.

2. Nausea

Excessive nausea can occur after chemotherapy with chemotherapy radiation exposure to the chest and stomach area. Nausea can last for one to three days after therapy. Although sometimes it is not accompanied by a feeling of wanting to vomit, the condition of nausea will reduce appetite.

Following are tips for treating nausea in chemotherapy patients:

• Take medication to reduce nausea.
• Avoid foods with strong odors, too spicy and hot.
• Eat dry foods such as cereals, crackers, little by little every few hours.
• Consumption of mineral water to prevent dehydration and nausea from getting worse.
• Avoid rooms with warm temperatures or smell of food.
• If you have a bad taste in your mouth and make you feel nauseous, eat mint or lemon flavored candy.

3. Xerostomia and sore throat

Both are often caused by exposure to chemotherapy in the upper body. Xerostomia is characterized by a thick salivary fluid that causes the mouth to dry out easily and is often accompanied by sore throat. This condition will reduce the health of teeth and mouth so that the mouth is more susceptible to infection. Here are tips for dealing with xerostomia and sore throats:

• Keep your mouth wet by consuming 8 to 10 glasses per day. Fluids help oral health in times of lack of salivary fluids.
• Clean your mouth after every meal with water and use a toothbrush with a soft brush.
• Avoid cleaning the mouth with mouthwash with alcohol.
• Avoid coffee consumption and exposure to cigarettes and secondhand smoke.
• Eat sugary foods that help stimulate salivary fluids.
• Eat smaller meals to make them easier to chew.
• Consume foods with broth and soft like soups and snacks such as fruit when cold.
• Make sure the room is cool and humid to avoid getting dry in the mouth.

4. Diarrhea

Cancer treatment causes the bowels to move more frequently and looser so that there is fluid when stool forms and causes diarrhea. Diarrheal conditions also cause diarrhea, significant weight loss and fatigue. Here are some ways to deal with diarrhea in patients who are undergoing chemotherapy:

• Consume mineral water regularly throughout the day.
• Keep the room temperature neither too cold nor too hot.
• Eat small snacks and snacks every few hours.
• Reduce consumption of processed milk to only 2 glasses per day.
• Avoid consuming gases such as soft drinks, gassy vegetables and chewing gum with sorbitol, mannitol, or xylitol.
• Consume fluids with a salt content, such as in isotonic or isotonic drinks sports drinks and soup.
• Eat foods with soluble fiber such as bananas, pears and oatmeal.
• Continue to monitor the condition of diarrhea, if the stool has an unusual odor and color, immediately report it to the doctor for further treatment.

5. Constipation

This often occurs during the treatment period accompanied by the consumption of drugs to reduce pain in cancer sufferers. Constipation or constipation occurs when the intestines do not move normally and are irregular, making it more difficult for the stool to pass. Unlike constipation in general, in patients who are undergoing chemotherapy, constipation is only caused by the body's reaction to the drug. Constipation conditions can be relieved in the following ways:

• Try to eat regularly at the same time every day.
• Consume 8 to 10 glasses of water every day, some warm drinks such as warm citrus drinks can help with bowel movements.
• Avoid consuming laxatives unless you have consulted with your doctor.
• Eat breakfast with warm drinks with high fiber.
• If necessary, consume supplement drinks with high calories, protein and fiber
• Avoid carbonated drinks and reduce consumption of various foods that make stomach gas such as avocado, cabbage, broccoli, cucumber, spinach, fish, eggs and milk while experiencing constipation.