Advanced Gastric Cancer Diet: What to Eat and What to Avoid

Advanced Gastric Cancer Diet: What to Eat and What to Avoid

Dealing with a gastric cancer diagnosis can really mess with your munchies. Advanced gastric cancer can wreak havoc on your eating habits, from affecting your appetite to impacting your ability to swallow or digest food properly. Here's the lowdown on navigating your nutrition game during your cancer journey, all thanks to the wised-up Dr. Emanuele Lo Menzo, MD.

First things first, no two cancers are alike, so understanding how your specific cancer will affect your eating and nutrition can be a bit tricky. As Dr. Lo Menzo points out, it all depends on the stage of the cancer and its location. Some gastric cancers can be completely asymptomatic, while others might block the openings in your stomach, making it challenging to eat anything that requires chewing power or yogurt-like consistency.

When cancer comes along, it's essential to maintain your weight and provide your body with the energy it needs to heal. And since your body will be working overtime to kick the cancer's butt, you may need to consume more food than usual.

Now, if you have a tumor that's blocking the openings in your stomach, you'll want to focus on eating nutrient-rich foods that can sneak by the blockage. That means eating plenty of soft foods and liquids and steering clear of anything that requires a lot of chewing. Dr. Lo Menzo suggests going on a liquid or mostly liquid diet to make things easier on your stomach.

Another tip is to eat smaller meals throughout the day rather than three large ones. Cancer may make your stomach less elastic, reducing the amount of food it can accommodate at a single sitting. Eating small, frequent meals will help you meet your nutrition goals without feeling Overstuffed Sam.

When it comes to your meal plan, remember to focus on getting plenty of protein, calories, and vitamins. You'll want to pack in protein-rich foods like tofu, seafood, or pork, healthy fats like avocado and olive oil, and sides like mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, or soup. And don't forget those protein or nutrition supplement milkshakes – they're super helpful for maintaining your weight and energy levels.

It's also a good idea to avoid foods that are hard on your stomach, like foods high in fiber, foods that irritate your stomach, or foods that are likely to fill your stomach up with gas. That means steering clear of processed foods, greasy, fried foods, sugary foods, caffeinated beverages, carbonated beverages, and anything else that your stomach won't appreciate.

Pro tip: If you're struggling to eat due to a lack of appetite or difficulty swallowing, reach out to your care team. They can prescribe medications to help boost your hunger signals or come up with a plan to help you manage your symptoms. If you're having trouble getting or keeping food in your stomach, swallowing issues can be addressed through physical or occupational therapy or surgery.

Now, it's essential to remember that food isn't just fuel for your body – it's an integral part of life. Going through this cancer journey can bring up all sorts of emotions regarding food, and it's okay to grieve those changes. Turn to a mental health professional, support group, or your friends and family for help, or chat with the members of your care team if your thoughts and feelings about food are causing distress.

Stay strong, stay nourished, and stay focused on kicking that cancer to the curb. And if you've got questions about your eating plan during treatment, don't hesitate to ask your care team – they've got your back every step of the way.

1. Gastric cancer can affect one's appetite and ability to digest food, making meal planning crucial during the cancer journey.
2. Understanding how one's specific cancer will impact eating habits is essential, as it varies based on stage and location.
3. Maintaining weight and providing the body with adequate energy is important for healing during cancer treatment.
4. Consuming more food than usual may be necessary due to the body's increased workload in fighting cancer.
5. Focusing on nutrient-rich foods that can bypass stomach blockages is key for those with a tumor blocking the openings.
6. A liquid or mostly liquid diet can make life easier for the stomach during this time.
7. Eating smaller meals throughout the day may be beneficial, as cancer might reduce the stomach's elasticity.
8. The meal plan should focus on protein, calories, and vitamins, with protein-rich foods like tofu, seafood, or pork being included.
9. Healthy fats such as avocado and olive oil, and sides like mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, or soup can also be included.
10. Protein or nutrition supplement milkshakes can be helpful for maintaining weight and energy levels.
11. Foods high in fiber, foods that irritate the stomach, or foods likely to cause gas should be avoided to ease stomach discomfort.
12. Processed foods, greasy, fried foods, sugary foods, caffeinated beverages, carbonated beverages, and other stomach-irritating foods should also be avoided.
13. If struggling to eat due to lack of appetite or difficulty swallowing, consult the care team for potential solutions such as medications or therapy.
14. Food is not just fuel; it's an essential part of life, and changes concerning food during the cancer journey can provoke strong emotions.
15. Seek help from mental health professionals, support groups, friends, and family if these changes cause distress.
16. Remaining strong, nourished, and focused on beating cancer is crucial during this time.
17. Don't hesitate to ask the care team questions about the eating plan during treatment.
18. Health and wellness during the cancer journey involves not only physical care but also mental and emotional support.
19. Coping with chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), type-2 diabetes, cancer, and other chronic diseases might involve unique dietary modifications.
20. Aging, eye health, hearing, fitness and exercise, sexual health, family health, Alzheimer's disease, autoimmune disorders, men's health, skin care, therapies and treatments, nutrition, weight management, multiple sclerosis, migraine, cardiovascular health, psoriasis, Medicare, CBD, rheumatoid arthritis, neurological disorders, breast cancer, skin conditions, and parenting are all connected to health and wellness and require specific attention and care.

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