Cancer can sometimes make it hard to enjoy foods that you used to love. However, nutrition is an important part of maintaining your weight and can help cope with treatment side effects. There are many steps you can take to give your body the nutrients and strength it needs.

Eating healthy is about more than calories. A balanced diet helps you:

• Stay at a healthy weight
• Maintain muscle strength
• Get the nutrition you need

Sometimes finding the right diet during lung cancer treatment is a trial-and-error process. If you have a lot of trouble maintaining a proper diet or notice any major changes in your weight, strength, or appetite, do discuss with your doctor and dietician.

People having cancer treatment should be aware of food safety. Some treatments may weaken the immune system, and this can raise the risk of infection. A food-borne infection happens when harmful bacteria, viruses, or fungi contaminate food and make you sick. Here are some basic food safety tips to reduce the risk of infection:

• Wash your hands before and while you handle and prepare food.
• Rinse vegetables and fruit thoroughly before eating them.
• Handle and store food safely. For example:
  • Use separate cutting boards for meats and vegetables
  • Store meat and fish on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator
  • Do not thaw food on the counter or under warm running water
  • Refrigerate food right after everyone has been served
• Eat fully cooked foods. For example, do not eat eggs that are not cooked solid, and do not eat raw fish, oysters, or shellfish.
• Do not eat or drink unpasteurized foods. This includes beverages such as unpasteurized cider, raw milk, and fruit juices, and foods such as cheeses made from unpasteurized milk.
• Make sure the food that you purchase is not past its sell-by or expiration date, and follow directions on proper storage.

Risk of cancers increases with the amount of alcohol consumed. Talk with your healthcare team about your alcohol use.

Here are some tips for eating and drinking when you have dry mouth or mouth sores:

• Drink plenty of liquids. You can drink fluids through a straw to keep them away from painful sores in your mouth
• Skip salty, spicy, acidic, and rough foods, which may hurt to eat
• Eat foods at room temperature
• Try soft foods, such as soups, smoothies, yogurt, hot cereals, porridge, eggs, tender meats, mashed fruits or vegetables, or foods that have been pureed—use sauces, gravy, or broth to soften food
• Drink high-calorie shakes or smoothies with protein powder, milk—dairy, soy, or rice—nut butter, yogurt, and fruit
• Use ice chips or hard candies to moisten your mouth
• If you have dry mouth without mouth sores, try a tart liquid or food, such as lemon, lime, and pickles to make saliva start

Other ways to deal with dry mouth or mouth sores:

• Talk with your doctor about medicines that would help ease the pain of mouth sores
• Use a small, soft-bristle toothbrush to brush your teeth and tongue gently after each meal and at bedtime
• Avoid oral (mouth) care products containing alcohol
• Use a lip moisturizer
• Avoid alcoholic beverages and tobacco, which will irritate and dry out your mouth

Contact your doctor or nurse if you have:

• New redness, sores, or white patches in your mouth
• Bleeding of your gums or mouth
• Trouble swallowing or pain when you swallow
• Mouth pain that does not get better after taking pain medicine

Eat foods that smell and look good to you

• If foods don’t seem to taste right, and you do not have any mouth soreness, season them with tart flavours, such as lemon, vinegar, or with spices

If foods have a metallic taste, these tips may help:

• Use plastic utensils instead of metal ones
• Serve food at room temperature
• Use sugar-free lemon drops or mints
• If you do not have any mouth soreness, add commonly available spices and flavourings such as salt and pepper to give foods extra flavour

Salty, bitter, or sour taste:

• Try adding sugar, maple syrup, agave syrup, or honey Sweet taste:
• Add a few drops of lemon or lime juice—or enough drops to dull the sweet taste
• Use a non-alcohol-based mouthwash to rinse your mouth and tongue 2 times a day
• Floss gently at least once per day, but if you haven't flossed regularly before treatment, don't start flossing now
• Dry your toothbrush before putting it away to prevent bacteria from growing on it

Foods to eat:

• Soft and easy-to-chew food, such as soups, smoothies, yogurt, warm cereals, eggs, tender meats, and well-cooked and mashed fruits and vegetables
• Use sauces, liquid, or gravy to moisten food
• Foods at room temperature
• Small meals frequently (5-6 times a day) instead of 3 large meals
• Meals that are high in protein and calories or add a nutritional beverage (like a smoothie)

Tips:

• Eat the foods you like and those that sound good to you. For example, some people develop a dislike for red meat and meat broths during treatment. In that case, try other protein sources, such as fish, chicken, beans, and nuts.
• If the nausea only happens between meals, keep something in your stomach. Eat frequent, small snacks throughout the day. Snack ideas include smoothies, trail mix, and fruit.
• Do not skip meals or snacks. If your stomach is empty, your nausea might be worse.
• Try to avoid eating your favorite foods when you have nausea. If you eat foods you like when you are nauseated, you could find them unappealing when treatment is over because you associated them with feeling sick.
• Sip liquids slowly throughout the day. You may find it easier to tolerate cold and clear liquids (Clear liquids are those you can see through, such as ginger ale, apple juice, broth, tea, etc.)
• Also try popsicles or gelatin. Suck on hard candy with pleasant smells, such as lemon drops or mints, to help get rid of bad tastes. (Don’t eat tart candies if you have mouth sores.)
• Eat bland foods, such as dry toast and crackers.
• Eat food cold or at room temperature to decrease its smell and taste.
• Avoid fatty, fried, spicy, or very sweet foods.
• Try small amounts of foods high in calories that are easy to eat (such as pudding, ice cream, sherbets, yogurt, and milkshakes) several times a day.
• Use butter, oils, syrups, sauces, and milk in foods to raise calories.
• Avoid low-fat foods unless fats upset your stomach or cause other problems.
• Tart or sour foods may be easier to keep down (unless you have mouth sores).
• Try to rest quietly while sitting upright for at least an hour after each meal.
• Tell your cancer team about the nausea, because there are many drugs that can help it.
• Take your anti-nausea medicine at the first signs of nausea to help prevent vomiting.
• While waiting for your nausea medicine to work, relax and take slow, deep breaths.

Tips:

• Try a clear liquid diet (one that includes water, weak tea, apple juice, clear broth, etc.) when diarrhea starts or when you feel that it’s going to start. Avoid acidic drinks, such as tomato juice, citrus juices, and fizzy soft drinks.
• Take medicine for diarrhea only if and as prescribed.
• Track the amount and frequency of bowel movements.
• Include foods that are high in potassium (such as bananas and potatoes). Potassium is an important mineral that you may lose if you have diarrhea.
• Drink and eat high-sodium (salt) foods like broths or soups.
• Avoid milk or milk products if they seem to make diarrhea worse. Yogurt and buttermilk are usually OK.
• Avoid pastries, candies and rich desserts.
• Avoid high-fat foods, like fried and greasy foods because they also can make diarrhea worse.
• Don’t drink alcohol or use tobacco.
• Avoid high-fiber foods, which might make diarrhea worse. These include nuts, seeds, whole grains, legumes (beans and peas), dried fruits, and raw fruits and vegetables.

Tips:

• Drink more fluids. Pasteurized fruit juices and warm or hot fluids in the morning are often helpful.
• Get as much light exercise as possible.
• Avoid foods and drinks that cause gas, such as apples, avocados, beans and peas, cabbage, broccoli, milk, and fizzy drinks, until the constipation is gone.
• Avoid chewing gum and using straws to drink. Using them can also cause gas.
• Avoid or cut back on any foods that may cause constipation, such as cheese or eggs.
• Do not use enemas or suppositories. Always ask your doctor before using stool softeners or laxatives.

Tips:

• Eat several small meals or snacks throughout the day, rather than 3 large meals.
• Avoid drinking liquids with meals, or take only small sips of liquids while eating to keep from feeling full early (unless you need liquids to help swallow or for dry mouth). But remember it's important to stay hydrated, so it might be best to drink most of your liquids between meals.
• Make eating more enjoyable by setting the table with pretty dishes, playing your favorite music, watching TV, or eating with someone.
• Be as physically active as you can. Start off slowly, and increase your activity over time as you feel stronger. Sometimes a short walk an hour or so before meals can help you feel hungry.
• Keep high-calorie, high-protein snacks on hand. Try hard-cooked eggs, peanut butter, cheese, ice cream, puddings, nuts, etc.
• Review the tips on adding calories and protein to foods and include these in meals and snacks throughout the day.
• Eat your favorite foods any time of the day; for instance, if you like breakfast foods, you can eat them for dinner.

Tips:

• Plan meals ahead of time, and make extra servings to freeze so you have them when you need them.
• Choose foods high in protein and calories.
• Eat 5-6 small meals instead of 3 large meals—frequent meals help keep up your strength.
• Stay well hydrated.
• Try nutritional beverages or liquid meal replacements if recommended by your doctor.

Other ways to deal with fatigue (feeling weak and tired):

• Listen to your body: schedule short naps or rest periods throughout the day and get quality sleep at night.
• Keep active: a short walk or exercising for a short time daily can help you feel better.
• Relax: try exercises such as stretching, tai chi or yoga.
• Track it: recording details on your fatigue levels can help your healthcare provider identify things that may be contributing to your fatigue.
• Plan your day so you accomplish the most important activities first.
• Accept help from family members and friends.

Contact your healthcare team if:

• You feel too tired to get out of bed for a 24-hour period.
• You feel confused, dizzy, lose your balance, or fall.
• You have problems waking up.
• You have problems catching your breath.
• Your fatigue seems to be getting worse.

These may be signs of other problems that need to be treated.