Eating Right Can Help Your Pancreatic

Cancer Fight
As the source of insulin that helps in the regulation of blood sugar and of
enzymes that help break down fats, carbohydrates, and proteins, the pancreas
is a key part of the digestive system.

So it’s not so surprising that cancer of the pancreas can bring with it significant
nutritional challenges. Successfully addressing these challenges, however, brings
multiple rewards: it can enable and enhance treatment, boost day-to-day well-
being, and support healthy recovery.

A Dietitian’s Training and Experience Matters

When assembling a team to tackle your pancreatic cancer, a dietitian should be

one of your first recruits, according to Maria Petzel, RD, CSO, LD, CNSC, a senior
clinical dietitian at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. Ideally, he or she should
have a CSO after their name, signifying they have received oncology nutrition
certification, with more than 2,000 hours of clinical oncology experience under
their belt. That experience comes in handy when assessing the needs of each
patient, which differ from person to person, based on factors such as their body
type, treatment history, surgical history, and amount of fat in their diet.

For pancreatic cancer patients it is important that the dietitian is well-educated

in enzymes. Pancreatic enzymes help break down fats, proteins, and
carbohydrates. A deficit of pancreatic enzymes can affect digestion, cause
uncomfortable side effects, and weight loss. Symptoms of inadequate enzyme
production include excessive gas, bloating, or indigestion after meals and
changes in bowel movements such as light colored or yellow stools or stools that
are frequent, floating, oily, or loose.

Fun Fact: A normally functioning pancreas secretes about eight cups of enzyme-
containing pancreatic juice into the duodenum daily.
“Inadequate enzyme production can be fixed with pancreatic enzyme
replacement therapy (supplementing with prescription enzymes), but it’s not a
one-size-fits-all solution,” Petzel says. “Pancreatic cancer patients need to have
someone on their healthcare team who can help individuals figure out what
brand and dose works best to help minimize symptoms and get maximal
digestion and absorption.”

Combating the Side Effects of Treatment

Weight loss due to pancreatic cancer is common, but its causes can be
complicated. Some are related to the tumor itself, in which case surgery,
chemotherapy, or radiation treatment can help. Others, however, are a result of
such treatment.

Nausea, loss of appetite, or the change in taste that often accompany chemo or
radiation therapy can be combated through diet and pharmaceutical strategies.
These are most successful when tailored to each patient, Petzel explains. One
person’s diarrhea could be caused by fat malabsorption due to pancreatic
enzyme insufficiency, while another may be suffering the effects of lactose
intolerance, bacterial overgrowth, chemotherapy, or dumping syndrome from
surgical resection. Enzyme replacement may solve the problem for some
patients, while a low-fat, low-fiber, and/or dairy-free diet might do the trick for
others.

Maintaining a healthy weight for pancreatic cancer patients can be critical to

the success of their treatment. “We know that patients who are able to
maintain weight are more likely to get their scheduled doses of treatment,”
Petzel adds.

Here is some general advice Petzel offers for patients:

Consume small, frequent, balanced meals (not just snacks), six to eight per day,
to help combat fatigue and weight loss. Schedule these meals for specific times.
“Depending on your body to tell you it’s hungry is often not sufficient,” Petzel
says.
Avoid high-fat foods that are hard for your already taxed pancreas to handle.

Watch your fiber. High intake of insoluble fiber food sources (whole grain
breads/cereals Spelt, Teff, Quinoa etc, raw fruits with thick peels, raw
vegetables, and nuts- walnuts, pumpkin seeds) can make foods move faster
through and draw more water into the intestines, exacerbating diarrhea. Foods
that contain soluble fiber, such as oat fiber, and high-pectin foods like
applesauce and bananas, can help.

Avoid sugary foods and portion out your carbs, mixing them with protein
sources like Green Leafy Vegetables ( no dairy) beans (Garbanzo), Sea
Vegetables ... to help with blood sugar stability.

If your sense of taste has been altered due to treatment, experiment with
different foods, textures, and flavors to determine what is most appealing.

Keep hydrated by drinking clear beverages like water, juice, electrolyte

replacement beverages, or broth. Beverages that contain calories, nutrients,
and protein, such as smoothies or nutritional supplement drinks, can also be
helpful for those who cannot stomach a meal.

Stay active. Deep Breathing exercises .. “Even 5, 10, 15 minutes of physical

activity, two or three times a day, can stimulate the appetite and promote the
emptying of the stomach,” Petzel explains.

Keep a daily diet journal recording foods eaten, weight, pancreatic enzymes
used (and when, in relation to meals), frequency and consistency of bowel
movements, and blood glucose readings, if applicable.