good nutrition is important at any stage of your life
especially if you have cancer eating well can help you feel better
heal and recover faster in general patients who have been diagnosed with a
neuroendocrine tumor should focus on three nutrition goals
making sure their diet provides them with enough calories protein and fluid
throughout treatment calories give you energy and help you
gain or maintain weight try to eat and drink enough calories
throughout treatment to maintain your weight
protein helps build a healthy immune system helps you maintain muscle mass
and strength it helps you fight infection and heal
in general patients going through cancer treatment
require more protein than usual try to include a protein-rich food at
every meal and snack protein foods include chicken fish
poultry tofu dairy products nuts and legumes
like dried beans peas and lentils finally drinking enough
fluids is important to prevent dehydration
on average aim to have at least nine cups of fluid each day
if your weight is stable and you don't have any symptoms or side effects that
are impacting your eating try to meet your calorie protein and
fluid requirements by following canada's food guide
in other words eat a balanced diet of protein foods
whole grains fruits and vegetables and choose fluids like
water milk and soy milk however if you have lost weight or if you have
symptoms and side effects that are making it difficult to eat
this diet pattern might not be right for you instead
you might have to choose foods and fluids that are packed with protein and
calories like high fat dairy products high protein high calorie soups and
smoothies and possibly nutrition supplement drinks
speak to a dietitian they can provide you with personalized tips to help you
get the nutrition you need they can also provide you with diet tips
for managing symptoms and side effects like diarrhea
nausea taste changes and mouth sores some patients diagnosed with a
neuroendocrine tumor experience carcinoid syndrome
which causes symptoms like bloating gas flushing which is like a redness in the
face abdominal pain or diarrhea for patients with carcinoid syndrome
certain foods and eating habits can make symptoms worse
like eating large meals eating meals that are high in fat
drinking alcohol eating spicy foods eating raw tomatoes and eating foods
that have moderate to high amounts of amines always remember that everyone is
different not everyone experiences carcinoid
syndrome and not everybody has the same trigger foods
please speak with a dietitian for personalized nutrition advice
being diagnosed with cancer can be overwhelming and nutrition is likely
just one of many things someone with cancer is thinking about
you can help by offering to grocery shop or prepare food to make cooking and
eating well easier there is also a ton of misinformation on
the internet about nutrition and cancer don't add to the confusion by offering
your opinion on someone's diet especially if they don't ask for it if
you know someone with cancer and you are worried about their nutrition
encourage them to speak with a registered dietitian so that they can
get up-to-date evidence-based nutrition advice
if you have questions about nutrition
and you're a patient at the odette cancer center
visit the nutrition resource center we are located on the ground floor of
odette across from the cafeteria you can visit
us monday to friday or give us a call at 416-480-4623
nutrition services are part of your care at odette you do not need a referral
from a doctor to speak with a dietitian if you are not a patient at odette and
you have questions about nutrition ask a member of your health care team
about what nutrition services are available to you
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