Dietary guidelines for tongue cancer patients

1. The importance of diet for patients with tongue cancer

When suffering from cancer in general, and tongue cancer in particular, patients need to eat a healthy, nutritious diet to boost their immune system, cope with the side effects of treatment, and support recovery.

Proper nutrition is a crucial factor contributing to the success of cancer treatment. Adequate nutrition during cancer treatment offers benefits such as: maintaining health to continue treatment, minimizing the toxicity and side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, promoting faster wound healing, facilitating quicker post-operative recovery, and improving the patient's mood.

Patients undergoing treatment need to maintain good nutrition to ensure they have the strength to participate in the treatments effectively and according to the prescribed regimen. Even after discharge, they should continue to eat a nutritious, balanced , and healthy diet to maintain good health and a strong immune system, contributing to a reduced risk of recurrence.

Tongue cancer makes it difficult for patients to eat and drink.

For patients with tongue cancer, ensuring proper nutrition is even more crucial, as medical experts say tongue cancer seriously affects their health, especially their ability to eat.

Due to tumors or cancerous lesions, tongue movement and swallowing become difficult, causing patients to lose their appetite, leading to weight loss and declining health.

Tongue cancer can affect taste, causing food to taste different or lose its taste entirely. This can lead to loss of appetite. Additionally, fatigue, anxiety due to psychological factors, or side effects of treatment can further diminish appetite and energy levels.

Therefore, patients need special attention to nutrition to provide sufficient energy, maintain health, and support the recovery process. Increased nutrient intake, especially vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, is crucial to boost immunity against infections and other diseases.

Some common side effects of tongue cancer treatment include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and mouth sores, which affect the ability to eat and absorb nutrients. A suitable diet can help alleviate these side effects and improve the quality of life for patients.

2. Essential nutrients for tongue cancer patients

Professor Tran Van Thuan, Deputy Minister of Health and one of the leading experts in cancer prevention and treatment research, stated:

In general, a proper diet for cancer patients involves consuming a variety of foods, divided into several meals throughout the day, ensuring a balance of the four food groups: carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. It is recommended to eat more plant-based foods, limit canned goods, sugar, and fats, and avoid overeating, as this can lead to metabolic disorders and overweight or obesity.

However, nutritional regimens vary for each individual patient. Specialists will base their recommendations on clinical and paraclinical data, assessing the patient's condition and nutritional needs during treatment to provide helpful advice on diet and decide on appropriate nutritional interventions.

Proper nutritional practices are crucial in inhibiting cancer development, enhancing treatment effectiveness, and improving quality of life.

Protein

After surgery or other treatments, the body needs sufficient nutrients to repair damaged tissues. A high-protein diet helps promote wound healing in patients with tongue cancer.

Good sources of protein for tongue cancer patients include: lean meat, fish, skinless poultry, eggs, dairy products, nuts, and beans.

Fiber

Dietary fiber helps promote digestion and eliminate toxins from the body more quickly. Fiber nourishes beneficial bacteria in the gut, helping the digestive system function better and preventing constipation.

Fiber-rich foods of plant origin can protect and repair damaged DNA in the body, which is very beneficial for cancer patients. Abundant sources of fiber include green vegetables, root vegetables, fresh fruits, whole grains, and nuts.

Vitamins and minerals

These food groups are essential in the diet of cancer patients. Eating foods rich in vitamins and minerals helps cancer patients strengthen their immune system to fight infections and supports the treatment process.

Good sources of vitamins and minerals for tongue cancer patients include fruits and vegetables; milk, yogurt, etc.

Provide enough water.

Water helps cleanse the body, detoxify, and support digestion. For patients with tongue cancer, drinking plenty of water will provide moisture to prevent dry mouth and help food move through the digestive system more easily. Drinking plenty of water also helps soothe mouth and tongue pain. Patients should drink about 2 liters of water per day, divided into smaller portions throughout the day.

Patients with tongue cancer should drink plenty of water and eat soft, ripe fruits such as mangoes and bananas.

3. Suggestions for some foods that are good for people with tongue cancer.

When preparing food for patients with tongue cancer, prioritize nutritious foods that are soft, easy to chew, swallow, and digest, such as soups, porridges, stews, smoothies, and soft ripe fruits.

• Porridge: Plain porridge, multigrain porridge, meat porridge, fish porridge...
• Soups: Vegetable soup, chicken soup, fish soup...
• Smoothies: Fruit smoothies, vegetable smoothies...
• Soft, ripe fruits: Bananas, avocados, papayas, mangoes...
• Soft-boiled green vegetables: Spinach, bok choy, broccoli...
• Finely minced lean meat: Beef, pork, chicken...
• Steamed fish: Tilapia, snakehead fish, basa fish, red snapper...
• Boiled or steamed eggs: Chicken eggs, duck eggs...
• Yogurt: Low-sugar yogurt, Greek yogurt...

Note: Meals should be divided into 5-6 smaller meals per day to ensure sufficient calorie intake and easy digestion. If the patient experiences significant pain from tongue ulcers, a food processor should be used to finely grind food. Drink fruit juices or smoothies. Avoid acidic foods such as lemons or citrus fruits, or spicy foods like chili peppers and black pepper.

Season food lightly, limit consumption of stewed and fried dishes with lots of oil. Avoid alcohol and tobacco. Pay attention to food sources and safe cooking methods to avoid the risk of food poisoning.

If a patient experiences difficulties with eating, leading to a significant decline in health, they should inform their treating physician or a nutritionist for guidance on appropriate interventions.

Source: https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn/che-do-dinh-duong-cho-nguoi-benh-ung-thu-luoi-172240529065648973.htm