Nutrition-Related Topics:
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Getting your children to eat right is hard enough in the best of circumstances-just look at the number of articles and books on the topic. But your challenge in this area is heightened when your child has cancer. Not only are you dealing with your child's growing body and the increased nutrition and caloric intake that requires, but now you're coping with the effects of the disease and the side effects of the cancer treatment.
It comes as no surprise, then, that those who eat well during treatment are better able to withstand the side effects of chemotherapy. It's because the nutrients in a balanced diet help maintain a child's strength, prevent body tissue from breaking down, and rebuild the normal tissues that have been affected.
So now the question is, "Who, what, when, where, and how?!"
We've compiled some practical tips to deal with the nutrition-related side effects you may be dealing with. But don't rely just on us-use your hospital's dietitian. They'll have information on basic nutrition, suggestions for fussy eaters and special considerations (such as no salt, high fiber, etc.). As always, please share what works for you! Each child is different and it's not always a matter of opening to the right page in the text book to find out what will work for you. One final note: Your child's eating habits can be a great source of frustration to you. What works for one child won't work for another, and what worked yesterday isn't working today. It's troubling because it's so clear to you that getting the right nutrition is crucial to your child's health, and yet, they still won't (or can't) eat. Be patient—with your child AND with yourself. Keep on looking and keep on trying.
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