An Overview of Cancer: Definition, Symptoms & Dietary Considerations

We all are aware that cancer can be stressful and frightening but knowing what to expect from dietary management can empower you and help you take control of your health. Cancer can start almost anywhere in the human body, which is made up of trillions of cells and can occur at any age and in any part of the body.

As Defined by the National Cancer Institute — Cancer is a disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body causing abnormal or damaged cell growth and multiplication when they shouldn’t. These cells form tumors, which are lumps of tissue.

Signs and Symptoms

• Fatigue or extreme tiredness that doesn’t get better with rest. Weight loss or gain for no known reason.
• Fever or nights sweats, headaches, vision or hearing problems.
• Eating problems such as not feeling hungry, trouble swallowing, belly pain or nausea and vomiting.
• Loss of taste, which can make food unappealing.
• Diarrhea, which drains the body of nutrients.
• Mouth changes such as sores, bleeding, pain, or numbness.
• Thickening or lump in the breast or other part of the body.
• Pain, especially new or with no known reason, that doesn’t go away or gets worse.
• Skin changes such as a lump that bleeds or turns scaly, a new mole or a change in a mole, a sore that does not heal or a yellowish color to the skin or eyes (jaundice).
• Cough or hoarseness that does not go away
• Unusual bleeding or bruising for no known reason.
• Change in bowel habits, such as constipation or diarrhea.
• Bladder changes such as pain when passing urine, blood in the urine or needing to pass urine more or less often.

The signs and symptoms caused by cancer will vary depending on what part of the body is affected.

Foods to Include

• Leafy green vegetables — such as kale, spinach, mustard greens, chard should be added to diet as they contain carotenoid, folate, B vitamins, antioxidants, including beta carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin which is associated with reduced breast cancer risk.
• Cruciferous vegetables — such as cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli is beneficial in lowering the risk of cancer.
• Beans — such as black beans are loaded with fiber, vitamins and minerals. Specifically, their high fiber content protects against cancer.
• Fatty fish — such as salmon, sardines and mackerel contains omega-3 fats, selenium, and antioxidants which has protective effects against cancer. Additionally, balancing your omega-3 to omega-6 ratio by eating more fatty fish and less refined oils and ultra processed foods helps reduce cancer risk.

Foods to Avoid

• Refined carbohydrates- Diets high in refined carbs, increases the risk of cancer. To avoid the onset of cancer replace refined carbs like white bread and sugary baked goods with whole grain products such as bajra, ragi and nutrient dense fruits and vegetables.
• Sugar- A diet high in added sugar significantly raises risk of cancer by increasing inflammation and the expression of certain enzymes related to cancer growth and spread.
• Processed meats- Processed meats like bacon and sausage raises the risk of breast cancer.
• Fried foods — Eating fast food regularly has many downsides, including an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and breast cancer.
• Alcohol- Consumption of alcoholic beverages, especially heavy drinking significantly increases the risk of breast cancer.

Dietary Considerations for Cancer Management

• Eat small meals or nutritious snacks throughout the day, rather than three large meals to gradually increase appetite.
• Food easy to chew, swallow, digest and absorb even if high in fat.
• Include colorful fruits and vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, carrot, pumpkin, mango, papaya, pineapple, berries, grapes.
• Drink plenty of water, add fiber rich foods, and add veggies and beans to your meals to prevent constipation.
• Choose foods or drinks with sodium (broth) and potassium (bananas and all natural fruit juices) to reduce diarrhoea.
• Try new foods with different spices or marinades. To over come loss of taste add strong flavors, such as lemon or lime juice.
• To reduce nausea , add anti-nausea foods such as citrus, ginger and peppermint oil. Including ginger tea or eat ginger chews and suck on lemon slice.

Nutrition plays an integral role in providing enough calories to maintain weight, protein to help rebuild, vitamins and minerals which are essential for your body’s functioning during cancer. Henceforth, making conscious food choices will help the immune system fight against cancer. It is very important to maintain proper nutrition before, during and after cancer treatment, as treatments involve radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, surgery these procedures and medications can cause many individuals to lose their appetite and energy, putting them at an increased risk for malnutrition. Dietary Management’s main goal is to try to keep your weight constant, in order to minimize weight changes, heal properly and maintain the energy to cope with all the new challenges cancer may bring, you should try to eat a wide variety of foods ensuring a balanced diet.

References:

https://www.healthline.com/health/cancer

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324193

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cancer-fighting-foods

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle