| Can
I drink your soy shake recipes if my oncologist or dietitian has recommended
that I follow a neutropenic diet due to my low white blood cell counts?
Check
with your doctor or nurse to see if a drug called Neupogen, which which
stimulates the production of white blood cells, would be appropriate
for you to use during this time of low white blood cell (WBC) counts.
Product information with prescribing guidelines are available at the
following web site: http://www.neupogen.com/pi.html
Regarding
neutropenic diets, hopefully, you will only need this periodically if
your counts are low (again, each center implements this diet at different
WBC levels). A neutropenic diet includes all well-cooked foods and eliminates
foods that may contain potential disease-causing microorganisms (Oncology
Nutrition Patient Education Materials by Walker and Masino, published
by The American Dietetic Association, 1998).The restrictions on this
diet vary from cancer center to cancer center. Please ask to speak to
the Registered Dietitian at your cancer center to obtain the current
guidelines used there.
General
Guidelines (as related to the ingredients used in my soy shake recipes):
- Many
fruits and vegetables are available canned and can be used to make
the shake.
- You
could also take fresh or frozen fruits and veggies, first wash them
thoroughly under running water, microwave or steam them until well-done,
cool covered in the refrigerator, and then use them in the shake.
(Some fresh produce even has better availability of nutrients and
phytochemicals with cooking although other nutrients are also decreased
with cooking. However, please remember that this diet is only for
short term use and try not to worry too much about the lost nutrients.)
- Use
the vacuum-packed (pastuerized) tofu to minimize bacterial counts.
Change the storage water daily. Never buy tofu from open bins or barrels
during this time of being immune-suppressed.
- Do not
use the wheat germ, wheat bran, or flax seeds at this time.
- Additional
pertinent foods recommended as OK in the Oncology Nutrition Patient
Education Materials cited above:
| - |
pasteurized yogurt |
| - |
peeled thick-skinned, unblemished fresh fruit (banana, citrus,
melon - be sure to wash the outside peels prior to cutting through
the fruit with your knife) |
| - |
peeled apples |
| - |
cooked dried fruit |
| - |
processed fruit juices - pasteurized milk (and soy milk) |
- Pertinent
foods to avoid per the Oncology Nutrition Patient Education Materials
cited above:
|
-
fresh-squeezed fruit juice |
| |
-
unpasteurized fruit juice |
- Be sure
your blender and its cover, cutting board and utensils are clean,
preferably by washing them all in the dishwasher. If you need to wash
these items by hand, use warm soapy water, rinse well, then wash again
with a solution of 1 Tablespooon bleach in 4 cups of warm water. Let
the solution stay on for at least 2 minutes and then rinse clean with
hot clean water.
- Probably
most important of all, thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water
before handling the foods and preparing the shake.
One excellent on-line source for further information
on neutropenic diets is at the website for the Seattle
Cancer Care Alliance.
FAQ posted
5/00, updated 7/01, 11/02, 8/03, 1/04
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Back
to Main QandA
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Nutritional
Concerns during Cancer Treatment (related
to side effects)
 |
Can
you provide a list of all chemotherapy drugs called alkylating agents that
may potentially have interactions with antioxidant supplements during chemotherapy?
posted
10/02 |
|
Dear
Diana, I am undergoing treatments for cancer and am not eating well. What
should I do? posted
7/01 |
|
Can
I drink your soy shake recipes if my oncologist or dietitian has recommended
that I follow a neutropenic diet due to my low white blood cell counts?
posted
5/00, updated 7/01, updated 11/02, updated 8/03 |
|
Should
I consume antioxidants during my cancer therapy? posted
12/01, updated 10/02 |
|
Can
herbs interact with any of the chemotherapy drugs? posted
4/01, updated 9/02 |
|
Are
there any diet changes to help relieve bloating during abdominal radiation?
posted
4/03 |
|
Do
you have diet suggestions for someone who has diarrhea after
radiation therapy for rectal cancer? posted
1/04, updated 4/04, 11/04, 1/05 |
|
Is
it safe to drink green tea if I have a port for administration of my chemotherapy?
posted
1/04 |
|
Can
you tell me foods to eat to reduce the acid in my urine and pain in my bladder
and ureters? posted
2/04, updated 5/05 |
|
How
can I eat a diet as healthy as you suggest if I need to be
hospitalized for more than a day or two? posted
3/04 |
|
My
husband is having chemotherapy treatments and has lost his sense
of taste after one treatment. Are there any foods I can prepare that will
give him some relief?
posted
9/04 |
|
Is
there a good web site describing the nutrition related side effects from
chemo drugs? posted
10/04 |
|
Should
I stop drinking green tea during chemotherapy to avoid consuming too many
antioxidants? posted 7/05 |
|
How
can I use the diet recommendations on your web site and in your book
to both increase my intake of cancer fighting foods for optimizing
my cancer recovery and lose weight at the same time? posted
3/06 |
|
What
tips do you have to stay on a healthy diet during the holiday season? posted
11/06 |
|
Top
These questions and answers
are intended to be of a general informative nature. Please consult with
the Registered Dietitian in your cancer center or your health care provider
for nutritional advice that can be individualized to your specific medical
condition.
|
