Loss of appetite, called anorexia, is one of the most common side effects of chemotherapy . It can also result from radiation therapy , stress and anxiety, depression and the cancer itself.
For the sake of your health, your strength and your ability to fight cancer, you have to get enough nutrition. But it's hard to keep your appetite when your mouth and tongue are sore or you have trouble swallowing. Fortunately, these side effects are usually short-term, lasting only three to eight days. But even after they go away, you still might have trouble getting your normal appetite back.
You can talk to a dietitian, nurse or your doctor about ways to improve your appetite. If you don't seem to be making too much progress, you might also ask your doctor about medications that can stimulate your appetite, such as:
• Prednisone , a corticosteroid hormone, when given in small doses of 10 to 20 mg a day (there are side effects to
consider).
• Megestrol (a progestin), 40 mg two to four times a day.
Tips to Reduce Loss of Appetite
• Plan your meals in advance and arrange for help in preparing them. You might also better tolerate meals
prepared by friends or family, since cooking at home might produce offensive odors that will put you off food.
• Make your mealtimes a pleasant experience.
• Stimulate your appetite by exercising for 5 or 10 minutes about a half-hour before meals.
