Taste Changes during Chemo
Hi everyone, I wanted to start a conversation about something that comes up constantly with my clients but doesn't always get enough attention during treatment: taste changes during chemo. I'm Lydia, an Accredited Practising Dietitian working in oncology nutrition specifically with women going through chemo for breast and gynae cancers. Here's what I hear most often: "Everything tastes metallic." "I used to love chicken, now I can't stand it." "Food just tastes like nothing." "Sweet things taste way too sweet." Do any of these sound familiar? Taste changes are one of the most common side effects of chemotherapy, and they can have a real impact on how much and how well you eat during treatment. The tricky part is that they vary from person to person and can change from cycle to cycle, which makes generic advice hard to apply. I've created a free guide called the Taste Changes Survival Guide that covers practical strategies for different types of taste changes, and how to keep eating well when your appetite and taste are working against you. You can download it here: nourish-through-cancer.kit.com/tastechangesguide I'd really love to hear your experience too! What taste changes have you dealt with during chemo? And have you found anything that works? I find that women in treatment often have the most useful tips for each other. Lydia Tan, APD Oncology DietitianWorried I’ll overdose on salt!
Hello, I’m new here. I’ve only had one round of chemo (last Tuesday) and I’m completely weirded out by my mouth turning into a foreign entity! The only thing that seems to give me any sense of my old self is salty liquid. I’m talking stock powder dissolved in boiling water - it’s now one of the few ‘foods’ that gives me any joy! I’m trying to eat a balanced diet, but finding it hard to do with zero appetite and a rebellious mouth. Worried I’ll overload my system with salt! Help!
Calm before the storm
Hi all, We have our first dose-dense AC treatment this Friday for Rebecca and while we're really glad to have some sense of momentum and control now with the treatment plan, I'm trying to get organised this week with meals and am a little out of my depth as to what to expect. Normally we'd write a meal plan for the week, pre-order the ingredients for those meals and basically just roll with it, however with chemo coming up, we're not 100% sure if that's going to work any more, especially with changes in taste and appetite. Our plan is to try and stick to the routine as much as possible and keep meals as healthy and varied as we can to ensure good nutrition and healing, but obviously will have to test and adjust as we work through side-effects etc. I've done some research and it seems like a lot of websites are suggesting sticking with somewhat normal meals, but maybe just a bit blander / different in texture. Other sites say do more regular, smaller snack-type meals, so maybe a mix of both? I'd really appreciate any tips you might have with regards planning for meals etc, particularly during the first few days of treatment. Thanks :) George
Gluten free bread recipe
Hi. I suffer from gluten intolerance and have found that the bread I usually make has become unpalatable to me since starting chemo. Does anyone have a gluten free bread recipe that is fairly bland tasting? I've found that just using more rice flour makes the bread too 'ricey' and not really much better tasting. Any suggestions appreciated.
Supermarket Deliveries
Hey @BCNA, I've got a friend having AC who lives alone. Coles have cancelled her online deliveries saying they're reserving them for the vulnerable and at risk members of the community. But her immune system is very compromised. She's exactly a person who should not be exposed to the risk of Covid19. How does she get through to Coles or Woolies that she should be on the list? Your help and advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! K xox @Giovanna_BCNA @Riki_BCNA @Rosie_BCNA @Kirsten_BCNA
Help Needed for Easy Lunches
Like many of you, I am trying to eat as well as I can but I often find meals and in particular, lunchtime at work, rather challenging. Unless there are leftovers in the fridge at home (and with 3 teenagers, there's almost never leftovers), I usually end up buying unsatisfying, calorie dense meals from the canteen. It's expensive, leaden and not particularly nutritious. I think I would like to be able to have a bowl of vegies or something like that that I could stick in the microwave. But I'm looking for some easy sauce recipes to add to them that I could make at home - enough to keep in the fridge for a few days and use as needed. I'm trying to keep it healthy but happy to add more dairy to my diet. I love things like potato/vegetable bakes so things along those lines would be great or other ideas to add a zing. And they'd need to be suitable for microwave reheating. I'm hoping that some of you great cooks out there can share an easy recipe or two.
Dysphagia
Hello all. So over christmas and new years i was in hospital again. I have been having some swallowing issues for about 6 months now and its seem to have got worse as the weeks go bye, when i mentioned it to my oncologist she said it could be a mixture of chemo, body being so weak, radiation to breasts and just the cancer itself. So she didnt do anything about it. Just before christmas we called ambulance to the house cause i was javing trouble breathing, long story short, ended up in hospital for unrelated issue, but refused to leave till i got answers about the throat issue. Did tests turns out i have Dysphagia......... does anyone else have this? I have been on puree diet since christmas and it is HARD. My husband and i are doing our best to make recipes up then hope once its pureed they taste good. I have ent specialist next week and i hipe hes able to give me some good news. Any help or recipes maybe you ate when you had trouble swallowing would be greatly appreciated. I can give my email address if it makes it easier or msg me privately. Thanks so much in advance.
