Acute leukemia is a rapidly progressing malignant blood disorder requiring repeated chemotherapy, which is extremely taxing on the body, and it is important to have a scientifically sound dietary regimen to match the different stages of treatment.
During chemotherapy drug use
The chemotherapy drugs kill the gastrointestinal mucosal cells that are renewed daily, and easily lead to nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension and other gastrointestinal reactions, so avoid spicy, greasy, and fish spines, bone fragments, hard shells and other foods.
Drugs can cause a lot of protein consumption and decomposition, resulting in increased liver and kidney load and higher blood uric acid, so it is advisable to consume sufficient animal high-quality protein foods that are easy to digest, such as fresh milk, lean meat, poultry, eggs, fish, etc. The company’s main goal is to provide the best possible service to its customers.
Beyond the three meals, add some vitamin and mineral rich and easy to digest diet, such as mushrooms, kiwi and fresh vegetable juice. However, avoid eating fruits and vegetables that cannot be peeled, cannot be completely cleaned, or are left for a long time, such as strawberries and half sliced watermelon, which often progress rapidly and even interrupt chemotherapy once infection is triggered.
Post-chemotherapy myelosuppression phase
In the two weeks following chemotherapy drug administration, patients will experience a rapid decrease and then a slow rise in hematopoietic cells, which will result in varying degrees of fever and infection, extensive bleeding, and anemia, and thus a high-calorie diet should be supplemented with no less than 1500 to 1800 calories per day and no less than 300 grams of sugar per day. Supplementation with adequate amounts of vitamin C and B-vitamin foods, such as fruits and cereals, to improve the body’s resistance and prevent excessive bleeding.
For patients with fever and low food intake, hydration and electrolytes (iron, calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, etc.) should be replenished. In addition to the water in the food, at least 2000-3000ml of water should be added each day. milk, fruit, drinks, egg, vegetable, broth, etc., with appropriate amounts of sugar, salt and other seasonings to increase appetite, and fruit juices such as watermelon juice, autumn pear juice, tomato juice, sugar cane juice, etc.
When there is anemia and bleeding, you need to increase the consumption of diets that have blood-supplementing and hemostatic properties. This includes some iron-rich foods such as peas, black beans, green vegetables, dates, brown sugar, black fungus, sesame paste, and egg yolk, as well as turtle gum, turtle soup, aconite, fish scale gum, bone broth, and yam porridge, which promote bone marrow hematopoiesis. However, soft foods and soups are preferred to avoid fish spines and bone chips from piercing the oral mucosa and gums and causing bleeding and infection.
Intervals between chemotherapy
During this phase, leukemia patients generally rest at home, must regularly open windows and ventilate, are appropriately lightly active to regain strength, and avoid crowded settings. The appetite of patients in this stage is basically restored, and they can eat more high-protein and high-fiber foods to promote the repair of the body and smooth bowel movement.
At this time, animal proteins can be combined with soy proteins, like poultry eggs, dairy, fish and shrimp, lean meat, animal blood, animal offal, tofu, tofu brain, bean curd, and soy milk to meet the body’s need for different types of proteins.
Eat more selenium-rich foods like konjac, squid, sea cucumber and matsutake to increase your body mass and immunity.
Follow-up phase at the end of the chemotherapy course
The smoothest length of chemotherapy for leukemia patients typically lasts about a year and a half, with some types requiring a three-year course, and a longer course once relapse is refractory, with a higher probability of relapse after stopping chemotherapy. So a good living environment and regular habits are very important, a balanced intake of high protein, high fiber and high vitamin still needs to be ensured, and try not to eat irritating peppers, onions, garlic, ginger, cinnamon, etc.; excitatory coffee, strong tea, tobacco, alcohol, etc.; cold crabs, bitter melon, etc.; warm food mutton, dog meat, leeks, pepper, etc.
The above describes the basic dietary regimen for acute leukemia. Careful regulation and persistence will certainly help to enhance the efficacy of leukemia and improve the quality of life.