The Challenge

Nutrition During Cancer Treatment

The nutritional challenges facing patients undergoing cancer treatment cannot be underestimated. For most cancer patients, nearly all foods taste differently while undergoing chemo or radiotherapy due to the effect of treatment on the patient’s palate. Sable’s Foods bars were developed to ensure that cancer patients receive the nutrition they need without compromising the pleasure of eating.

“Traditionally, nutritional support has been recommended after a patient has lost at least 10% of his or her body weight, but…studies have shown that patients with a 5% or more loss in body weight have decreased survival rates and an inability tolerate chemotherapy.”

Gonzales, M. (2006). Early Nutritional Intervention Recommended for Cancer Patients [Electronic version]. OncoLog, June 2006, Vol. 51, No. 6

The good news is research shows that a balanced diet can make a tremendous difference to a patient’s quality of life. In fact, according to the National Cancer Institute (www.cancer.gov), not only will eating properly help patients “feel better and stay stronger,” but also, “…patients who eat well during cancer treatment are better able to cope with their disease and any side effects of treatment.” Taking in adequate nutrition is essential to maintaining a healthy weight, supporting the immune system, combating fatigue, and preserving a positive sense of wellbeing.

There is no one type of food that should be eaten by someone fighting cancer. Instead, it is important to eat a healthy, balanced diet with a variety of foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and protein. The challenge is finding foods that meet these nutritional guidelines yet are tasty and enjoyable to eat.

Cancer and Nutrition: The Challenge

Two common problems faced by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy are the change in taste sensation and loss of appetite. These are compounded by the lack of products that provide a pleasurable eating experience while delivering the necessary nutrients. Together, these issues make it extremely difficult for patients to maintain a sensible diet, which weakens their general ability to combat the disease and cope with the treatment regimen. On top of this, patients want to maintain an active lifestyle—keeping up with work and family responsibilities as much as possible. So even when they find foods that provide adequate nutrition, they often lack flavor, require frequent trips to the store, or necessitate extensive preparation at home, making them hard to take on the go. All too often, the complaint is that patients want the ease of grabbing something convenient, “like the energy bars everyone else is eating.” They want a food that will work for their needs…yet not advertise they are eating something different.