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Foods smell bad & black skin patches?

Question

Hello, My mother was earlier suffering from breast cancer in May'07. She got her treatement and was curing when suddenly it occurred again. Now it has gone into lungs (partial). Could you please assist me with the diet she should intake as she doesnt like anything to eat and complaints about bad smell in food. And she has also got some black patches all over her body. She has gone through chemotherapy and radiotherapy both earlier.

Answer

Loss of appetite is one of the most common problems encountered by people with cancer. It is often difficult to pinpoint the exact cause, but it may be due to the cancer itself, the cancer treatments, physical symptoms (e.g. pain, difficulty swallowing), the emotional effects of being diagnosed with cancer, or any combination of these. Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy can cause nausea, vomiting, or changes in the way food tastes or smells. These side effects impair appetite, and it can sometimes be difficult for people to stop associating these thoughts with food, even after treatment has finished. Talking things through with your mothers Doctor/Healthcare professional will help you to understand the symptoms she is experiencing, and may help to identify any further medical interventions that could add to symptom control. This will ultimately benefit nutritional intake. If poor appetite continues, your mother may find that she begins to lose weight. To minimise weight loss and help prevent nutritional deficiency, people with cancer are often advised to follow a diet that is high in protein and calories. The Doctor/Healthcare professional will be able to advise if this is appropriate in your mother’s case. If so, here are some dietary suggestions that might help to improve your mother’s appetite and reduce weight loss:

  • Eat ‘little and often’ i.e. small amounts every 2-3 hours rather than 3 larger meals.
  • Keep portions small. Serving food on a small plate may be less off putting.
  • Try high protein/calorie snacks e.g. cheese and biscuits, nuts, crisps, full fat yoghurt, ice cream.
  • Add extra calories and protein to food. Try adding cream, cheese, or butter to savoury items, or sugar, honey, jam, syrup or evaporated milk to sweet items.
  • Try experimenting with new foods and flavours. For example, if red meat tastes or smells strange, try marinating, using cook-in sauces, dressings, herbs or spices to change the flavour. Alternatively, chicken, turkey, fish, eggs and dairy products are all good sources of protein.
  • Encourage your mother to allow friends and relatives to prepare meals for her. Cooking can be tiring and may put her off eating. If cooking smells spoil her appetite, ask her to stay away from the kitchen and let others do the work. Cold foods e.g. sandwiches, pate, cheese and biscuits, yoghurts, fromage frais, ice cream may be better tolerated as they don’t have a strong smell.
  • If your mother is feeling up to it, a short walk before a meal may help to stimulate her appetite and allow her to enjoy some fresh air. Additionally, eating in a well ventilated room and making meal times as relaxed and pleasant as possible can help.
  • A small amount of alcohol (e.g. sherry, brandy, wine, beer) taken half an hour before a meal can act as an appetite stimulant. Check with your mothers Doctor that it is acceptable for her to take alcohol.

There are some ‘High protein’ and ‘Quick and easy snacks’ on the website that will give you some further ideas. If dietary intake remains poor, nutritional supplement drinks may be helpful. Supplement drinks contain protein, calories, vitamins and minerals. They are available in a variety of styles and flavours, and your mother may benefit from trying a few different types so that she can find the ones she prefers. Additional products such as soups, powders and liquids that will add extra calories and/or protein to the diet are also available. Doctors can provide a prescription for nutritional supplement drinks/products, and patients should talk to their Healthcare professional who can help to arrange this. If you would like more detailed dietary advice, your mother can ask her Hospital Doctor or GP to refer her to a Registered Dietitian. As for the black patches all over your mothers body, it is very difficult to offer advice without seeing them in person. I would certainly advise that she sees her cancer specialist or GP regarding these. However the commonest cause of this appearance would be multiple bruises which can occur for a number of reasons in people with cancer. If people are on chemotherapy the drugs can affect special cells in the blood called platelets. If platelet numbers in the blood fall which is very common with chemotherapy then people can be prone to easy bruising. A similar problem can occur if people are taking steroids for a prolonged period of time, either as a specific part of cancer treatment or as a boost for appetite. Occasionally the cancer itself can affect the bone marrow which also can affect the platelet numbers and leaves people prone to bruising. Your mother certainly needs to see her health professional regarding the dark patches and to have a blood test to check on her platelet levels. Occasionally other rashes give rise to this appearance which may be caused by infection for example so do seek advice soon.

Source: Nutrition in cancer Editorial Board