Special Nutritional Needs

Many patients with pancreatic cancer do not feel like eating, especially when they are uncomfortable or tired. In addition, the side effects of treatment such as poor appetite, nausea, and vomiting can make eating difficult.

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To keep the body strong, patients should try to take in enough calories and protein to control weight, maintain strength, and promote healing. Eating four or five small meals a day of high-protein, high-calorie foods will help you maintain your weight and your strength. Ask your doctor for a referral to a clinical dietitian who can help you plan your diet and address your specific needs.

You may need to take nutritional supplement drinks and nutritional therapy by tube feeding. A feeding tube is a medical device used to provide nutrition to patients who have problems swallowing. The feeding process is called enteral feeding or tube feeding. Tube feeding may be temporary for the treatment of acute conditions or long term in the case of chronic illnesses. Feeding tubes are not painful and are not easily visible when wearing normal clothes. A dietitian will teach you and your caregiver about nutritional supplements and how to use and manage the tube.

Patients may be transitioned back to eating by mouth when they are able to swallow. Your dietitian will help you with this process. Transitioning from tube feeding to eating should happen gradually since you will need to consume enough calories, protein, and fluid by mouth to maintain your weight.