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Eating Hints: Before, During, and After Cancer Treatment

  • Posted: 09/30/2009

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NCI Highlights

Eating Problems That May Be Caused by Certain Cancer Treatments


Cancer TreatmentWhat Sometimes Happens: Side Effects
Surgery
  • Surgery may slow digestion (how the body uses food). It can also affect eating if you have surgery of the mouth, stomach, intestines, or throat.
  • After surgery, some people have trouble getting back to normal eating. If this happens, you may need to get nutrients through a feeding tube or IV (through a needle directly into a vein).
Note: Surgery increases your need for good nutrition. If you are weak or underweight, you may need to eat a high-protein, high calorie diet before surgery.
Radiation TherapyRadiation therapy damages healthy cells as well as cancer cells. When you have radiation therapy to the head, neck, chest, or esophagus, you may have eating problems such as: When you have radiation therapy to the abdomen or pelvis, you may have problems with:
ChemotherapyChemotherapy works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells, which grow and divide quickly. But it can also harm healthy cells that grow and divide quickly, such as those in the lining of your mouth and intestines. Damage to healthy cells can lead to side effects. Some of these side effects can lead to eating problems, such as:
Biological Therapy (Immunotherapy)Biological therapy can affect your interest in food or ability to eat. Problems can include:
Hormone TherapyHormone therapy can affect your interest in food or ability to eat.

Problems can include: