Whether it’s radiation, chemotherapy, or surgery, health experts say cancer treatment can impact how you feel about food. “When it comes to food during treatment, patients can experience a lot of different things. They might have taste changes, which makes their normal foods taste awful to them. They might have chewing and swallowing issues. They might have nausea and things like that. So, when we’re choosing their foods, we have to take into account, what they are physically able to eat,” explained Taylor Lawless, an oncology clinical dietitian with Lee Health.

Lawless offers patients nutritional assistance during cancer treatment. “We can help to ease symptoms like constipation, diarrhea, or nausea and vomiting. A lot of people also develop anxiety about food when they go through cancer treatment, so it’s dealing with the physical process, but also the emotional process going through what they are choosing to eat,” she said.

Taylor works with patients to find foods that can keep them healthy and nourished. “Diet and nutrition are vital for cancer patients and survivors because that’s what actually gives them the fuel, the vitamins, and the minerals, to repair their bodies from the treatments they are going through,” said Lawless.

Choosing foods that replenish vitamins and nutrients, and helps to maintain weight and muscle mass can keep patients strong during their cancer journey.


View More Health Matters video segments at LeeHealth.org/Healthmatters/

Lee Health in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of health care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For more than 100 years, we’ve been providing our community with personalized preventative health services and primary care to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries. Lee Health - Caring People. Inspiring Care.

Visit LeeHealth.org

свернуть