Stomach Cancer (cont.)
Nutrition
It is important to eat well during and after cancer treatment. You need the
right amount of calories, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Eating well may help
you feel better and have more energy.
Eating well can be hard. Sometimes, especially during or soon after
treatment, you may not feel like eating. You may be uncomfortable or tired. You
may find that foods do not taste as good as they used to. You also may have side
effects of treatment such as poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
A registered dietitian can suggest ways to deal with these problems. Some
people with stomach cancer are helped by receiving nutrition by a feeding tube
or by injection into a blood vessel. Some are helped by nutritional beverage
products.
You may want to read the NCI booklet Eating Hints for Cancer Patients. It
contains many useful ideas and recipes.
Nutrition after stomach surgery
Weight loss after surgery for stomach cancer is common. You may need to
change the types of food you eat. A registered dietitian can help you plan a
diet that will give you the nutrition you need.
Another common problem after stomach surgery is dumping syndrome. This
problem occurs when food or liquid enters the small intestine too fast. It can
cause cramps, nausea, bloating, diarrhea, and dizziness. Eating smaller meals
can help prevent dumping syndrome. Also, you may wish to cut down on very sweet
foods and drinks, such as cookies, candy, soda, and juices. A registered
dietitian can suggest foods to try. Also, your health care team may suggest
medicine to control the symptoms.
You may need to take daily supplements of vitamins and minerals, such as
calcium. You also may need injections of vitamin B12.
You may want to ask a registered dietitian these questions about nutrition:
- What foods are best soon after surgery?
- How can I avoid dumping syndrome?
- Are
there foods or drinks I should avoid?
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Next: What follow-up care is necessary for stomach cancer patients? What about complementary and alternative medicine? »
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