Prostate cancer: Eating well

Prostate cancer treatment can sap your appetite, but that's when getting adequate nutrition is more important than ever. Here are some suggestions on how to meet your needs.

When you're being treated for prostate cancer, it's more important than ever to eat a healthy diet and get good nutrition, but it can also be more difficult than ever. Your body is working overtime to fight the cancer, while it's also doing extra work to repair healthy cells that may have been damaged as a side effect of treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy. At the same time, many cancer treatments, especially chemotherapy, come with side effects that drain your strength and deplete your appetite. So how can you make sure you're getting all the essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals you need?

You might assume the answer lies in vitamin supplements. After all, if you're having trouble keeping food down, wouldn't it be easier to get nutrients from a simple capsule? Not necessarily – and talk to your doctors first. Cancer Research UK says some doctors worry about patients taking anything that boosts the immune system while they are having cancer treatment. The charity says anti oxidant supplements such as co enzyme Q10, selenium and vitamins A, C and E can help to prevent cell damage. However, it cautions that some doctors think that chemotherapy may work less well if you are taking anything that helps cells to recover, but at the moment there is not enough evidence to know for certain.

Eating well with prostate cancer

The side effects of cancer treatment are often made worse if you are not eating enough or if you are not eating the right foods. Maintaining good nutrition can help you feel better and have more energy. The following strategies will help to improve your diet:

• Meet your basic calorie needs. The estimated calorie requirement for someone with cancer is 15 calories per 450g (1lb) of weight if your weight has been stable. Add 500 calories per day if you have lost weight. As an example: a person who weighs 10.7 stone - that’s 68kg or 150lb - needs about 2250 calories per day to maintain his or her weight.
• Get plenty of protein. Protein rebuilds and repairs damaged (and normally ageing) body tissue. The estimated protein needs are 0.5g to 0.6g of protein per 450g (1lb) of body weight. As an example: A 10.7 stone (68kg) person needs 75g to 90g of protein per day. The best sources of protein include dairy foods 250ml/8fl oz milk = 8g protein) and meats (meat, fish or poultry = 7g of protein per ounce), as well as eggs and beans.
• Drink plenty of fluids. A minimum of about 2 litres (3.3 pints) per day will prevent dehydration. Fluids can include water, juice, milk, broth soup, milkshakes and other non- alcoholic drinks.  Bear in mind that you'll need more fluids if you have treatment side effects such as vomiting or diarrhoea.
• Ask your GP for a referral to a dietitian. A registered dietitian can make suggestions for working around any eating problems that may be interfering with your proper nutrition such as early feeling of fullness, difficulty swallowing or taste changes. A dietitian can also suggest ways to maximise calories and incorporate proteins in smaller amounts of food such as powdered milk, instant breakfast drinks and other commercial supplements or food additives. 
• Vitamin supplements do not provide calories, which are essential for energy production, nor are vitamins a substitute for food.

The Prostate Cancer Charity recommends starting by making small changes such as eating more fruit and vegetables. It warns that trying to make too many changes at once may mean that you are less likely to stick to them. Cutting down on unhealthy foods, such as those high in sugar or saturated fat,is a healthy step – but don't rule out whole groups of food from your diet –keep it varied and balanced.

The charity also suggests cutting down on alcohol and staying within recommended limits.