Losing weight is very common and could be harmful when first being diagnosed and then when going through the treatment. There are many reasons for losing weight; firstly the stress, and then, between the chemo and radiation, between the metal taste, the constipation or diarrhea, nausea and throwing up, loss of taste, mouth sores, sore throat, pain and even depression it makes it hard to eat. Sometimes the treatment and loss of muscle mass affects your metabolism or sometimes the tumor is in the way, or fear and anxiety kicks in. Many times individuals just lose their appetite or the ability to eat and loss of weight is a common side effect that is very important and definitely needs to be dealt with in the best way possible: easier said than done. For those who are overweight or obese, on the other hand, losing weight in a healthy and gradual way will help on many different levels.
Consulting with a qualified cancer nutritionist is recommended to create the best, tailored, diet for each individual. Striving to keep a healthy weight, if possible, with a rich diet to maximize nutrition intake and prevent weight loss will make it easier for individuals to deal with the vigorous treatment and also allows the body to heal faster. Our nutrition videos will explain why, what and how for another way to complement your treatment. Some Cancers lead to loss of weight more than others and maintaining the weight is part of the treatment. Sometimes lack of nutrition is the reason for not succeeding with the treatment.
