How to Eat Properly During Skin Cancer Treatments

Eating the right foods can be difficult during skin cancer treatments, especially if you are going through radiation treatment or chemotherapy, which can dramatically affect your appetite. A healthy diet, as well as proper nutritional supplements, may help you to feel stronger during your skin cancer treatment, and in many cases may help you to heal faster.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer with Internet access
• Foods and supplements for eating properly

1. Eat foods that are rich in Vitamin C, such as broccoli, spinach and citrus fruits. If intravenous drugs are part of your treatment regimen, ask your oncologist if adding a Vitamin C drip to your IV will help. Many experts feel that Vitamin C helps speed the healing process after a biopsy or an excision.
2. Take Vitamin A and D supplements, or eat foods that have been enriched with those two vitamins. The body usually gets these vitamins naturally from sunlight, and since most people who are undergoing skin cancer treatments must avoid ultraviolet rays, they may become deficient.
3. Speak with your oncologist about the possibility of doing an herbal cleanse for the colon or for parasites before skin cancer treatment. Such cleanses reduce the amount of bacteria in your system, which can cause infections when your immune system is compromised by treatments.
4. Eat plenty of fresh organic fruits and vegetables and drink plenty of water. Dehydration can be your enemy during chemotherapy or radiation treatments, and can result in many uncomfortable side effects like dry itchy skin, rashes, acne and peeling.
5. Give your oncologist or dermatologist plenty of feedback about the effects of eating properly during your skin cancer treatment, and when you follow up after the treatment is complete.

Tips & Warnings

• Take an active part in your treatment by knowing all of your treatment options, as guaranteed by the Consumer Bill of Rights and Responsibilities.
• Always get a second opinion if you suspect you have skin cancer, since some forms are difficult to detect in their early stages.
• Consult with your doctor about any counseling or prescription medications that will help you to cope with a cancer diagnosis. Be aware that some vitamins and herbal supplements may counteract with such medications.