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Food may be a turn-off for cancer patients, but it’s important to eat well for a speedy recovery.
Speedy Recovery for Cancer Patients by Eating Well
 Chemotherapy can cause a patient to lose his appetite. Due to changes to his taste buds, he may complain of food being too bland, but deep-fried foods or dishes heavily cooked with fat and spices may make the patient – already prone to nausea – feel sick. Yet, this is the time when proper nutrition is important: Eating well often makes the patient feel better and gives him energy and nutrients to recover sooner.
A Balanced Diet
A caregiver may understand the importance of a nutritious, balanced diet that is low in salt and fat, and the significance of ensuring the patient eats a variety of foods from the major food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, low-fat dairy products, lean protein, nuts and seeds.
But he may find it difficult to coax the patient to consume enough nutrients and calories. “A balanced diet is important, and modifications to the patient’s favourite meals can help him regain his appetite,” said Mdm Koay Saw Lan, Head, Department of Dietetics and Nutrition Services, Singapore General Hospital (SGH).
“So if a patient likes fish, caregivers can prepare soft meals such as fish porridge or steamed fish with soft rice,” she said. Caregivers can make food taste and look better by adding colour, flavour and fresh herbs such as parsley, coriander and rosemary, instead of relying on salt and other seasoning. A varied menu also helps to keep patients eating. “Presentation and colour are important as they can help to whet the patient’s appetite,” said Mdm Koay. A sprig of fresh coriander or parsley and sliced red bell peppers or chilli can perk up a bowl of bland-looking porridge.
Know your Food
A dish that includes different coloured vegetables – red, orange and green bell peppers, tomato and pumpkin – is not only healthy but attractive. Lots of vegetables also help bowel movement, as people undergoing chemotherapy may suffer from constipation. A mild-flavoured fruit and vegetable salsa adds colour and flavor to steamed fish, while a mild teriyaki sauce drizzled over lightly pan-fried fish is another alternative. Some cancer patients may avoid certain foods in the belief that they may encourage cancer cells to grow. But there is no need to omit any type of food from their diet, said Mdm Koay.
Lean beef, for instance, is a rich source of iron. It is more important to avoid deep-fried or heavy foods, especially if the patient has recently undergone surgery. Poaching, steaming and braising are the preferred methods of cooking during this time, as light, soft foods are “easier to swallow and digest, and the nutrition easier to absorb”, said Mdm Koay. A caregiver should also be cautious when supplementing the patient’s diet with Chinese, Indian or Malay medicinal herbs or tonics, as their impact on the body is not well understood.
It is not uncommon for well-meaning relatives to visit the patient in hospital or at home, bearing pots of herbal soup and other tonics to help him regain his health and strength quickly. Before eating these, patients should check with their doctors. “When relatives bring food items such as boiled herbal soup, we do not know where the herbs were bought, how the food was prepared, what the concentration of the herbs is in the soup, or what else was added,” said Mdm Koay.
Healthy Options
Sample menu of nutritious food for recovering patients at SGH
| Breakfast |
Boiled eggs & bread |
Bee hoon soup |
Porridge |
| Lunch |
Roast chicken with steamed rice |
Steamed tau hu with mushrooms |
Sliced fish kway teow soup |
| Dinner |
Fried fish with ginger and plum sauce |
Rice with vegetables |
Salmon grilled with thyme | |
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