By Ellie Kuykendall

The National Cancer Institute has put together some guidelines for eating before cancer treatment. By following these guidelines, you can help yourself feel better while you receive treatment.

1) Positive thinking

Maintaining a positive attitude will have the effect of helping you reduce stress during treatment and therefore help you to maintain your appetite. New drugs are available which will reduce the side effects of cancer treatments, so ask your doctor about them.

2) Check with your doctor or nutritionist

Your doctor and/or a nutritionist can recommend the foods best suited for the type treatment you receive. It may be that you should consume more foods high in calories and protein, such as ice cream, cheese and cooked eggs. Eating more sauces and gravies, butter, margarine and oil may be just the ticket for your diet. Eating foods that have less fiber will help to decrease dry mouth symptoms.

3) Healthy diet

Eating a healthy diet will help you reduce the stress on your body. Your side effects will be less, and you may even be able to withstand certain treatments at higher dosages.

4) Planning ahead

By buying your favorite foods ahead of time, you'll have to spend less time shopping while undergoing treatment. Choose foods that need less preparation, and cook various foods ahead of time and freeze them. This will save you prep time later when you're not feeling as well as you did before treatment. You can also plan your meals ahead of time. 

By following the above tips, you'll make your life easier once treatment begins.