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Ask the Dietitian is not a substitute for a consultation with a professional
who can inform you of all the facts of your particular situation. We answer
questions in general terms only, to give you information that may
used as a starting point.
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| TOPIC - Cancer |
| Question |
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Please let me know how to increase my husband weight as he had partial gastrectomy
last year due to stomach cancer ... his stomach size doesn't allow him to eat enough.
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| Answer |
Your husband is appears to be quite underweight. As there may be other issues such as
nutrient deficiencies due to malabsorption and malnutrition, I suggest that he see a
dietitian at the hospital and get a full assessment. He definitely needs to gain weight
and it may not be easy to do so unless a concerted effort is made.
Here are some general strategies for helping him gain weight:
- Because he cannot eat large quantities, make every bite count. Food should high in
calories and high in nutrients.
- If he likes and can tolerate milk & milk products, have them more often especially
milkshakes, cheese, yoghurt & ice cream as they are not only high in calorie but
also a good source of protein. You can also add full cream milk powder to foods such
as casseroles, cakes, muffins, etc. or use cream in his coffee.
- Avoid food that is filling but does not contain much calories or nutrients such as
salads, soda pop, clear soups, etc.
- For convenience, you can use liquid (canned) nutritional supplements such as Ensure,
Boost, Carnation, and Sustacal to boost his calories.
- Have nutrient-dense snacks on hand such as peanut butter & crackers, boiled
eggs, cream soups, bean or meat buns, nuts, etc.
- Have smaller, more frequent meals. Most patients find that they tolerate better if they
have 6 small meals per day rather than 3 large ones. See sample meal plan.
- Drink water or other beverages 30 mins before a meal or 1 hour after a meal to prevent
on feeling of fullness.
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Breakfast |
2 Toast with peanut butter
Milo with milk & sugar
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Snack |
Milkshake (see recipe)
Canned fruit in heavy syrup
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Lunch |
Cream of mushroom soup (made with full cream milk)
Tuna salad sandwich (with added milk powder in filling)
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Snack |
Custard bun
Coffee with cream & sugar
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Dinner |
Rice with deep-fried chicken & vegetables
Dish of ice cream
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Snack |
Cheese & crackers
Horlicks with milk & sugar
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| Question |
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May I know which brand of ice-cream has got nutrition value. My sister is a cancer patient
and I am not sure of which brand to buy for her.
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| Answer |
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Most ice cream brands available in Singapore have approximately the same nutrient content,
some may be a little higher in fat and thus higher in calories. It depends on what you are
trying to achieve by giving her ice cream. If you want to give her some high calorie
food to boost her weight, a high-fat ice cream can help do that but there are other food
options. However if she likes ice cream in particular, one brand which is especially high
in fat is Haagen Daaz - it has about 230 cal (chocolate) to about 360 cal (macadamia nut)
per 1/2 cup. Check the label on other rich ice cream for their calorie content. If you
need help with your sister's diet, please get a referral from her doctor to see a dietitian
who can guide you on a proper diet for her.
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| Question |
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Can the right nutrition cure cancer? Would you recommend a nutrition/supplements
plan for cancer-sufferers?
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| Answer |
There is very little research that support a particular diet curing cancer. Having the
proper nutrition, however, will help the patient undergoing treatment. It is important that
the cancer patient eat well to maintain his/her strength which will in turn help the treament
modality to be effective. If the patient is experiencing eating difficulties as a result of
the treatment such as loss of appetite, dry mouth, nausea, etc., make an appointment with the
oncology dietitian at the hospital for advice.
The American Cancer Society Guidelines for Diet, Nutrition, and Cancer Prevention states:
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- Eat your fruits and vegetables! They contain disease fighting vitamins, minerals,
phytochemicals, anti-oxidants, and fiber. Those with the most color — green, red, yellow,
orange - have the most nutrients. Aim for at least 5 total servings per day. A healthy
diet also includes 6 to 11 servings from the grain family, such as whole grain
bread, cereals, rice, and pasta.
- Limit your intake of high-fat foods, particularly from animal sources. Limit intake of
meats, and cut back on portion sizes. Choose healthier fats when you do have them, like
olive and canola oils.
- Be physically active; achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Reduce stress, increase your
energy, and control your weight with exercise. Find an activity you enjoy and get moving
for at least 30 minutes a day.
- Limit consumption of alcoholic beverages, if you drink at all. Cancer risk increases with
the amount of alcohol consumed so keep it to a minimum!
The National Center
for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at the National Institute of Health
(NIH) has an excellent website and provides information on a number of alternative therapies
including dietary approaches. You may want to check them out. If you should choose to use
an alternative therapy, it is a good idea to discuss its use with your oncologist as there may
be interactions which affect the treatment the patient is receiving.
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| Question |
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My mum is a colorectal cancer patient. I’ve read some articles that cancer patient should
“eliminate all forms of sugar including fruit, fruit juices and high sugar vegetable juices.
The sugar can suppress the immune system. Cancer needs only sugar to survive.” Is this true?
Can I use olive oil instead of the usual cooking oil for cooking my mum’s food?
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| Answer |
Sugar is not the only thing that cancer needs to survive, it also needs other nutrients.
Experts still recommend for colorectal cancer a low-fat, high fibre diet rich in fruits
and vegetables because of their anti-oxidant properties (although a couple of recent studies
has shown no effect of the diet on cancer prevention, further study is required). Thus it is
not necessary to restrict the amount of fruits or vegetables, either eaten whole or as juices.
Eating more fruits and vegetables is encouraged because of their protective effect.
To answer your second question, you can certainly use olive oil in place of your regular oil.
Olive oil has a distinct flavour and and a lower heating point, other than that you can cook
with it as you would with other oils.
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