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Eating and Swallowing Difficulties
Radiation can cause you to lose your appetite or your ability to eat properly. Your body may have a hard time digesting food or absorbing nutrients. You may experience difficulty or pain on swallowing, or you may feel like you have a lump in your throat.
Any of these problems can keep you from getting enough nutrition and to lose weight. These symptoms are most likely to develop if you are receiving radiation to your esophagus or GI (gastrointestinal) tract.
Tips for managing eating and swallowing difficulties
- Keep your throat moist by using a throat spray, artificial saliva preparations, or cough drops. Chew sugarless gum or try sugarless candy.
- The room where you sleep should be kept moist; try using a room vaporizer or humidifier.
- Drink at least six to eight glasses of fluids a day.
- Do not wear tight-fitting clothing around your neck area.
For more tips on eating well while undergoing cancer treatment, read Decreased Appetite in Common Side Effects
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