Does anybody know if there are foods that create an adverse affect (effect) to chemotherapy?

Question

Any knowledge of don't eat this or that?

My sister is taking chemo and she showed this book a friend gave her about "eating right for your type when you have cancer" She was asking the oncologist if it would be okay to eat maitake mushrooms on her salads, the dr said they should be fine in moderation. then she looked at the book and "I don't know this author" (sorry I can't remember the name) then she said, "Just don't mess me up" but sis didn't ask what did that mean????

My sister is taking chemo and she showed this book a friend gave her about "eating right for your type when you have cancer" She was asking the oncologist if it would be okay to eat maitake mushrooms on her salads, the dr said they should be fine in moderation. then she looked at the book and "I don't know this author" (sorry I can't remember the name) then she said, "Just don't mess me up" but sis didn't ask what did that mean????

Answer 1

The possibility that certain foods could affect chemo does sound very unlikely and I would discount it if I were you. Certainly when I had chemo I wasn't told of any. I know several people who have undergone various chemo regimes, and none of them have been warned to avoid specific foods either. IMany oncologists will advise against taking supplements though.

My only advice re chemo and food is try to eat a healthy diet but don't worry if you can't, just eat whatever makes you feel better. I couldn't face vegetables for much of the time I was having chemo. You may find you have little appetite but more likely you will find that because of the steroids you are given with chemo you eat like a horse. Modern anti-emetics are much improved and you may well find that though you sometimes feel nauseous you don't actually vomit at all.

Try to relax about food during chemo. You can deal with getting a balanced diet and with any weight you lose or put on (and yes you may well put on weight) when chemo's over.

Answer 2

Well it doesn't matter what you put inside you and everybody is different. our daughter, then 16 and 17 has had chemmo. She couldn't keep anything down. Her body had to get use to the medicine. But after a while she would eat some light like clear liquids i.e soups- nothing in it. Jello, Ginger ale, Sprite, 7-up, no coke and anything like that. You aren't going to be able to eat a full meal like you are use to doing. If you are, good. The thing that aggravated her stomach the most was spicy foods and foods that were acid like grapefruit, oranges etc. Could she say "pepto bismal' but that didnt work either. Ask your oncologist and oncologist nurse and the patient themselves. Those are the real experts in this ordeal. Good luck to you and if there is anything I can do for you as far as support, you can contact me at [e-mail]

Answer 3

It would depend upon the chemo the person is on. But while I was on one of my chemos they told me I could not eat grapefruit because it would interact with the chemo and it would alter the effects and the chemo would not work. You can also find this to be true with some of the blood pressure medications. Other than that I dont know of any other foods that they told me about.