Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer, and every year a few cases of this disease are diagnosed in the US. It can occur due to various reasons like family genetic history and radiation therapy to the chest. However, most mesothelioma cases result from direct or indirect asbestos exposure.
There is no permanent treatment for mesothelioma. However, specific medications and novel treatment techniques can help patients maintain a healthier lifestyle. Your physician can devise an appropriate treatment plan for you based on your age, health condition, and the stage of your disease. The initial treatments mostly provided for mesothelioma are chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Patients are encouraged to adopt healthy lifestyles to increase the effectiveness of the treatment.
Mesothelioma can take decades to develop after initial asbestos exposure. Moreover, the disease has similar symptoms to many other chest diseases. Therefore, physicians often misdiagnose it. The common symptoms of mesothelioma include chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, weakness, fever, and weight loss for no apparent reason. If any of these symptoms prevail for an unusually long time, you should consult an oncologist right away.
Besides the major symptoms, mesothelioma can also significantly change the patients’ hunger patterns and dietary choices. These changes often lead to unnecessary weight gain or weight loss. In this article, we are going to discuss how mesothelioma affects your hunger. If you need more information regarding mesothelioma, various free resources are available online that can provide you with a detailed guide.
Table of Contents
Loss of Appetite
Loss of appetite is a common issue that several cancer patients suffer from. It can affect the patient’s health and deprives them of enjoying daily life. Therefore, it can be difficult for the caretakers, friends, and family to deal with the changes in the patient’s eating habits and appetite.
Mesothelioma can directly impact your hunger patterns. You will likely feel less hungry because of fluid build-up in your body. Moreover, the spread of cancer in other parts of the body and the development of tumors can also cause you to lose your appetite.
Your appetite can also be affected by the treatments of mesothelioma. The drugs administered during chemotherapy, painkillers, and immunotherapy can cause you to lose your appetite. Moreover, general exhaustion, depression, and pain can consume a lot of energy, leaving you with little to no interest in eating.
Taste Changes
Mesothelioma treatments can impact your salivary glands and taste buds. Chemotherapy and targeted cancer drugs can temporarily affect the taste buds in your mouth. Moreover, pain killers and other anti-cancer drugs can affect the amount of saliva produced in your mouth, often causing dryness. The smell of food also adds to its taste, but some cancer treatments can also reduce your sense of smell.
Mesothelioma treatments affect your olfactory organs and change your sense of taste and smell. Therefore, the patient’s food preferences often change drastically, and they start liking spicy dishes more. Moreover, taste changes often lead to weight loss as well.
However, the taste changes are not permanent, and most patients gain their sense of smell and taste after the end of their treatment.
Digestive Problems
Mesothelioma and its treatment can cause several digestive issues. Different drugs used in the treatment can introduce digestive problems as a side effect. Moreover, loss of appetite, irregular eating patterns, depression, and other factors can also lead to several digestive diseases. All those digestive issues can impact your appetite and eating habits. Some of them are as follows;
Diarrhea
It can result from radiotherapy, immunotherapy, or chemotherapy. Mostly it goes away after two or three days of a therapy session. However, sometimes it lasts longer and can cause significant loss of nutrients leading to dehydration and malnutrition in the patient.
If you develop diarrhea after every therapy session, discuss it with your doctor. Your physician will probably recommend some medicines, as prolonged diarrhea can be dangerous.
Constipation
Many patients can suffer from constipation instead of diarrhea after mesothelioma treatments. An improper diet can also lead to constipation, and as constipation can make you feel full, it further reduces your appetite and leads to weight loss.
Physicians often prescribe laxatives to deal with this issue. It is also crucial to drink plenty of water and eat fruits and veggies to avoid this issue.
Nausea
It is another common side effect of mesothelioma and its treatments. Hormone therapies and bisphosphonates specifically induce nausea. Nausea can also impact your appetite and eating habits, reducing your quality of life.
Ideal Diet For Mesothelioma Patients
Mesothelioma and its treatment can be physically and mentally exhausting. It can specifically impact your hunger, leading to weight loss and other problems. However, maintaining a healthy and nutritious diet can help you live a healthy and good quality of life. Some tips are as follows;
Drink plenty of water
It is crucial to drink a lot of water or other fluids like fresh juices. It will keep your digestive system healthy, flush out toxins, and save you from developing constipation.
Double up on protein
A protein-based diet can help you maintain muscles and stay fit. Therefore, eat loads of eggs, meat, beans, and nuts.
Avoid snacks with zero nutritional value
It is better to eat healthier snacks like dark chocolate, dry fruits, and fruits and avoid eating useless junk like crisps, sugary drinks, or any processed food.
Eat-in little quantities but often
Some patients complain that they feel full after taking one or two bites of the food. Therefore, it is important to eat often, even in small quantities.
The Bottom Line
Mesothelioma is a dangerous disease that can affect different functions of your body, like your appetite. Mesothelioma and its treatments like chemotherapy drugs, painkillers, and radiotherapy can cause loss of appetite, changes in your taste, and digestive problems. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain a healthy diet to soothe or avoid these issues and maintain a healthy lifestyle while receiving treatment. Hopefully, this article will help you understand some ways mesothelioma affects your hunger.
Also Read: Benefits Of Hiring A Professional Cleaning Company.
