Disorder 1: Loss of appetite Often manifested at the early stage of cancer development. The causes include enlargement of the cancer tumor, toxin production, chemotherapy drugs and radiation. The patient’s appetite can be greatly reduced, resulting in a sharp decrease in the amount of food eaten, sometimes to only one-third or even less than before the onset of cancer. Countermeasures: The patient should be encouraged to eat as many meals as possible. If you feel tired or uncomfortable during a meal, take a break and then eat again. Try to meet the patient’s requirements for food and cooking methods and constantly change the pattern, paying special attention to the combination of color, aroma, taste and shape. Pay attention to the combination of soft and hard, dry and thin. Appetizers (such as hawthorn, etc.) can be tried in appropriate amounts to increase appetite. Increase the salt intake moderately to improve the appetite of some cancer patients. Keep a relaxed mood before and after meals. Excessively sweet or greasy food will further reduce appetite and should be avoided. Barrier 2: Altered sense of taste Causes include enlargement of cancer tumors, the effect of chemotherapy drugs, damage to taste buds by radiation and lack of trace elements such as zinc. Many cancer patients have a weakened sense of sweetness and sourness, while they are more sensitive to bitterness. The sensation of saltiness varies greatly from person to person. Countermeasures: Try sugar or lemon to enhance the sweetness and sourness, and use foods with unique flavors such as mushrooms and onions. Try not to use or use less bitter foods such as bitter melon and mustard, and adjust the amount of salt according to the patient’s sense of saltiness. We have observed that the use of cold dishes with moderate amounts of condiments is attractive to cancer patients with a more altered sense of taste. Such a food combination does not provide adequate nutrition, but often improves the appetite of cancer patients, opening a door for them to eat in the face of their “odd” tastes. Obstacle 3: Nausea and vomiting Mainly caused by radiation and chemotherapy. Countermeasures: Do not eat within 2 hours before radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Food should be light and avoid too sweet or greasy, especially not fried, deep-fried food and creamy food, and do not consume a lot of drinks at one time. Cold and hot foods should not be consumed at the same time to avoid stimulation of the stomach and intestines. Practice shows that the use of sour food in moderation is often effective in improving the eating condition of cancer patients with nausea and vomiting. If vomiting is serious, antiemetics can be taken under the guidance of doctors and intravenous rehydration can be paid attention to avoid disorders of water and electrolyte metabolism. Obstacle 4: Mouth ulcers are mainly caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but also by cancer tumor itself and viral infection. Patients may be unable to eat and chew due to oral ulcers. Countermeasures: Use liquid enteral nutrition preparation, either orally or by tube feeding, supplemented by a small amount of fresh juice to promote digestion. Adopt the principle of small amount and multiple meals, and pay attention to the “three degrees” of enteral nutrition preparation to reduce the intolerance reaction after feeding, namely: 1. 25%, generally can be configured according to the instructions on the enteral preparation, the volume ratio of the powdered enteral preparation to water is generally 1:4 to 1:6. These means mentioned above more or less change the patient’s original dietary habits and may make the patient feel inconvenienced in the initial stage of implementation. Talking to friends and family about their feelings and getting their help may help to overcome these inconveniences. Obviously, the patient’s own efforts and the help and cooperation of family and friends are essential for the continuation of nutritional therapy, and a comfortable and warm dining environment helps to enhance the effectiveness of nutritional therapy.