Cooking Through Chemo
Chemotherapy, radiation and surgery are today’s primary weapons in the fight against breast cancer. Unfortunately, in the process of destroying the cancer cells, they damage and destroy many good cells as well. Many treatments also affect appetite, diet and a person's overall well being, as such, diet can be a vital factor before, during and after treatment.
Some of the more common side-effects of treatment include:
- Neutropenia (immune suppression)
- Gastrointestinal disorders (Constipation and Diarrhea)
- Mouth and Throat Sores
- Weight Loss & Fatigue
- Weight Gain & Fatigue
While the effects of cancer treatment can be very damaging, diet can help condition and prepare one's body for chemotherapy in the days leading up to and following treatment. Our bodies need the nutrients in food to counteract the damage done by chemo and to stockpile beneficial nutrients prior to treatments.