Program Provides Cancer Patients Nutrition

By KACI FAVREAU Special to the News & Record

Good nutrition is important to everyone, but its particularly important for people with cancer. A healthful diet is essential to those patients who have had surgery or who are receiving chemotherapy and/or radiation treatments.

These treatments put a lot of demand on the body, so eating well can make you feel better, help fight off infections, help heal from the treatment and most importantly improve quality of life. Sometimes though, eating enough of the right foods is not an easy task.

Side effects of cancer therapy may change eating habits. Most common side effects include a decrease in appetite, change in sense of taste or smell, dry mouth, nausea and weight loss. Many people also experience trouble swallowing or a sore throat and mouth.

A registered dietitian can provide nutrition tips to help deal with the side effects of cancer therapy. Most importantly high calorie, easy-to-prepare foods such as peanut butter, eggs, cheese, milk and liquid supplements like Ensure or Boost become staples in the diet. Certain cancers, such as in the head and neck area, require a liquid diet because of the pain or difficulty in swallowing solid foods.

When eating or drinking becomes too difficult, there is an alternative way to receive nutrition. In these situations, nutrients can be provided through a soft tube that is placed into the stomach or intestines. This alternate route serves as a detour until swallowing becomes less painful and the person can take in enough nutrition by mouth to maintain weight. Food cannot be placed in this tube, so the liquid supplements provide all the needed nutrients for the day.

Cancer patients who require this type of temporary support often find the cost of the supplements prohibitive . With the help of LoveLine, resources are available for patients to purchase the nutrition supplements. Without the LoveLine Assistance Program these patients would not only suffer from cancer, but also from the effects of losing weight, being tired and having the feelings of hopelessness.

Providing essential elements of life such as food, warmth, shelter and hope is what LoveLine has been and continues to be for cancer patients of High Point Regional Hospital. Often the love line service that is provided to patients is also their lifeline.

Providing nutritional supplements is only one of the numerous ways that LoveLine reaches out to help those in need. So as the season of giving approaches and throughout the year, please consider helping those who are far less fortunate by contributing to the LoveLine Program at High Point Regional Hospital.

The LoveLine ceremony will be held 6: 30 p.m. Thursday in the Millis Regional Health Education Center. After the ceremony, those attending will proceed to the Cancer Center for music, the tree lighting and refreshments. Donations to LoveLine can be made by contacting Alana Holyfield in the Development Office at High Point Regional at 878-239).

Kaci Favreau, MS, RD, LDN, CNSD is a Registered Dietitian, and Danette Canup, RT, (R) (T) is Director of Radiation Therapy, both with High Point Regional Health System. For more on LoveLine, tune in today to Regional Health Talk on WMFR (1230 AM) at 8 a.m. To suggest a column topic, call 878-6200 or write to info@hprhs.com