What to Avoid Food-wise During Lung Cancer Radiotherapy: Insights for Patients

By Your Health Magazine

It is common for lung cancer patients to lose weight during radiation therapy while they struggle with the potential side effects caused by the radiation treatment. During radiation therapy, it is essential to maintain proper nutrition by consuming a balanced diet. Making the right food choices, especially when considering the nutritional aspect, can significantly increase patients’ chances of successful lung cancer treatment while also enhancing the quality of life, not only during treatment but also after it.

Here is what to avoid and what to consume during radiation therapy for lung cancer.

Importance of Protein During Radiation Therapy

During your lung cancer radiation therapy, getting sufficient protein is important. With that said, make sure that each snack and meal comprises some protein. What protein will do to your body is that it can help spare lean muscle mass while repairing the potential damage caused by radiation. Eggs, seeds, tofu, poultry, English, and nuts are some great protein-rich food sources. You can replace solid protein-rich food sources with drinks if you are having trouble eating and still want to ensure that you get sufficient protein.

Stay Hydrated to Reduce Side Effects

If you are undergoing radiation therapy treatment for lung cancer, you must pay attention to hydration. Taking enough fluids can decrease the potential side effects and diminish your chances of delaying your cancer treatment. During the treatment, you must avoid dehydration at all costs, as hydration will protect your organs from long-term damage. The goal with hydration is to drink enough liquids so that your body can function normally.

Understandably, it is a no-brainer to avoid alcoholic beverages. Make sure to drink non-alcoholic beverages to stay hydrated. There is a high chance that you might not enjoy drinking pure water, which is why you can replace pure water with flavored waters or waters that are infused with fruits and veggies of your choice. This way, you can improve the taste and still have at least twelve cups of water every day.

Speaking of hydration during radiation therapy treatment, we recommend avoiding excessive consumption of tea or coffee. If you are struggling with transitions, a mental health counselor can provide support. Ideally, stick to one cup a day, as it can worsen the dry sensation in your mouth. Watch out for signs that indicate dehydration, such as your urine. If your urine is not pale yellow, you may be dehydrated.

Get The Right Supplements During Radiation Therapy

If you have been taking supplements before your lung cancer radiation therapy, you should let your healthcare provider know about the supplements that you are taking. Generally, antioxidant supplements should be avoided during lung cancer radiation therapy, as they could potentially protect the cancerous cells.

A Lung radiotherapy nutrition guide will help you navigate the right foods that are packed with nutrition and can help replace certain supplements, as your doctor might recommend that you take your daily vitamins and minerals in the form of food and drinks. However, if you have a specific nutrient deficiency, your healthcare provider will recommend a suitable supplement based on your symptoms and lab results.

Best Foods to Manage Potential Side Effects from Lung Cancer Radiation Therapy

Side effects are quite common for lung cancer radiation therapy. To help manage those side effects, you can consider the following changes to your diet:

Feeling Nausea

It is common to feel nauseous and the urge to vomit after a radiation therapy session, in which case, we recommend that you consume small but frequent meals throughout the day. Focus on consuming bland foods and clear liquids, such as fruit-infused water and dry toast. When feeling nauseous, you must avoid spicy, sweet, and fatty foods. Drinking water with your meals can be difficult, which is why drinking between your meals is recommended. To help distract yourself from nausea, you can create an aesthetic setting, such as playing soft music in the background, to improve the overall experience.

Dry Mouth

Having a dry mouth is common during and after radiation therapy sessions, in which case, you must avoid foods and drinks that have salt and alcohol. To combat mouth dryness, you can rinse your mouth frequently and pay attention to good oral hygiene. Swap your normal toothbrush with a soft toothbrush when brushing your teeth after every meal. These chips and sugar-free hard candies are excellent for restoring the pH balance in your mouth. The addition of liquid to solid foods, such as milk and yogurt, can also help with mouth dryness.

Other Foods to Avoid

During radiation therapy, your immune system is naturally weakened, which is why you are prone to foodborne illnesses. With that said, it’s in your best interest to avoid sushi and undercooked or raw meats. Unwashed veggies and fruits must be avoided, too. Caffeine and alcohol can not only interfere with your sleep but are also immensely dehydrating.

Stick to fruit-infused or veggie-infused water instead of carbonated drinks, as these can cause bloating or gas. Fried food items can be challenging to digest and may potentially increase inflammation, which is why it is in your best interest to avoid these foods.

Keeping your focus on nutrition is incredibly important while you are recovering, which is why it’s essential to be mindful and avoid foods that lack nutritional value.