Oesophageal Cancer is different from other cancers in that the eating-related side effects do not necessarily subside after treatment ends. With this difficult cancer, your approach to everyday eating, your preferences and tastes, and even where to go for dinner and how to negotiate menus may need to be completely reassessed after diagnosis.
While some compromises will likely need to be made, it’s important not to feel too deprived! As with exercise, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, and the key is to find creative and exciting ways to explore the nutritional landscape best suited to you. Always remember the reasons you are making these new choices: eating well will help you regain your strength, rebuild tissue, and feel better overall.
And so diet and nutrition experts will be a key part of your cancer care team — always consult them about meal plans during treatment, and about possible long-term changes to your diet when you’re at the stage of living well, with a good quality of life.
While what may work for me might not work for you, there are some general guidelines that we’ve gleaned from our resources.
Cathy White
Senior Dietician in Surgery, Beaumont Hospital
Poor appetite can be a side effect of the disease or its treatment. Taking 5-6 small, nutritious meals and snacks a day instead of 3 larger meals can help.
If feeling tired or fatigued, eat foods that require little preparation. Tinned foods and ready meals can be useful. Prepare your meals when you have energy and batch freeze to reheat later.
If nausea or feeling sick is a problem, eat little and often. Avoid skipping meals; this can lead to hunger which worsens appetite.
Some regular gentle exercise and good sleeping habits can help improve appetite and general wellbeing.
A diet rich in energy and protein helps you to maintain a healthy weight during cancer treatment.
Listen to your body and the wisdom it imparts.
Cathy White | Senior Dietician in Surgery
Beaumont HospitalWe’re thrilled to be able to include this e-book containing delicious and easy digestible recipes for “Eating Well with Swallowing Difficulties”. We hope you find lots to whet your appetite, from soups to main courses, and of course, not forgetting – dessert.
Bon Appetit!
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