Post-Chemotherapy food intolerance

[JennyRich]

Hi, I was wondering whether anyone had any idea about the effect chemotherapy can have on the stomach's ability to tolerate foods? I have a friend who is finding foods that don't irritate her difficult to find post- chemo treatment.

Apparently asparagus was ok, chicken broth not okay. Rice not okay, nor potatoes etc.

Any input welcomed.

Kind regards JennyRich

[Mini]

Diet can really be a problem for patients on chemotherapy, with symptoms possibly including nausea, vomiting, taste and appetite changes, diarrhea, and constipation.

However, others have been there before, so there is quite a lot of info on this issue on the web, so I suggest some targeted Googling...

Exactly what foods are best is probably a very individual matter and may even vary on a day-to-day basis, so a 'suck it and see' policy is likely to be the best approach.

Here are a few pages/sites with appropriate advice and suggestions, to get things rolling:

http://www.ehow.com/about_5201978_foods-avoid-during-chemotherapy.html

http://lymphoma.about.com/od/issuesduringtreatment/tp/dietchemo.htm

http://www.chemocare.com/eatingwell/what_might_affect_nutrition_during.asp

http://www.myfoodmyhealth.com/MyHealthandNutrition/Conditions/Pre-and-Post-Chemo-and-Radiation.php

http://www.thathomesite.com/forums/load/specex/msg0918463529958.html?4

[Mini]

Hi again! A further thought...

The microalgae, chlorella, offers some important benefits for those on chemo, such as removing toxins, altering the balance of bugs in the gut to favour the beneficial bacteria - thus easing constipation and intestinal gas - and providing essential nutrients for rebuilding health.

According to David Wolfe's book 'Superfoods', rats treated with the chemotherapy drug cyclophosphamide showed enhanced resistance against E. coli when given chlorella extract.

Begin by taking a very small amount - perhaps a quarter of a teaspoon (approximately 1 gram) daily for the first couple of weeks, then build up gradually to a regular maintenance dose of at least a teaspoonful per day (about 5 grams).

People who take chlorella for mercury detoxification typically take 5-7 grams per day, and this is not an unusual dose.

If you find that you can't tolerate chlorella, this may be due to a cellulase insufficiency, which can be corrected by taking a digestive enzyme supplement containing cellulase. Alternatively, you could take one of the other microalgae, such as spirulina, AFA blue-green, or marine phytoplankton.

Hope this helps.

[JennyRich]

Thank you I have passed all this information on. Jenny