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Colorectal Cancer Patient Support:
Diet and Nutrition

When you have colorectal cancer, your body needs a healthy diet to function at its best. Healthy eating gives your body the strength it needs when you’re going through treatment. And eating well will help you better cope with any chemotherapy. When you’re well nourished, you may be better able to handle chemotherapy.

General eating suggestions:

Try new foods because your tastes may change during chemotherapy.

  • Plant-based foods like beans and peas are a good substitute for meats.
  • Eat colorful fruits and vegetables like citrus fruits and dark green and deep-yellow vegetables.
  • Try to avoid high-fat foods, limit salt-cured, smoked and pickled foods, and if you drink alcohol, do so in moderation.

Eat nutritious snacks

When you’re having chemotherapy, eating healthy snacks will help your body retain weight and recover more quickly. Here’s a way to make nutritious snacks part of your daily life:

  • Try eating small, nutritious snacks all day long. These can be yogurt, cereal and milk, half a sandwich, or cheese and crackers.

How to increase calories and protein:

  • Eat your favorite foods whenever you want. If you like breakfast foods at dinner, go ahead and enjoy yourself.
  • Don’t wait until you’re hungry to eat. Instead try to eat every few hours.
  • Drinking fluids with your meals will make you feel full, so try drinking fluids between meals.
  • Think about having high-calorie, high-protein foods at every meal.
  • Light exercise, like a short walk, before your meals will help increase your appetite.

Good high-protein foods

Milk products. Add grated cheese to baked potatoes, vegetables, soups, and pasta. You can also use milk instead of water for soups. Try adding yogurt or cottage cheese to your favorite fruits or blended smoothies.

Eggs. You can add hard-boiled eggs to your salads, casseroles, soups, and vegetables. Make sure the eggs are well-cooked to avoid the risk of harmful bacteria.

Beans, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Sprinkle seeds on fruit, ice cream, pudding, and custards. Peanut butter is quick and easy to spread on toast or fruits like bananas and apple slices.

For more Nutrition Tips, visit American Cancer Society’s Web site.

Learn about financial issues and colorectal cancer.

Important Safety Information

Anaphylactic-like reactions to ELOXATIN have been reported and may occur within minutes of ELOXATIN administration. Epinephrine, corticosteroids, and antihistamines have been employed to alleviate symptoms.

  • Do not take ELOXATIN if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in ELOXATIN or other medicines that contain platinum. Tell your doctor right away if you feel like your throat is closing up, have shortness of breath, a flushed face, a rash, itching/hives, swelling of lips or tongue, sudden cough, dizziness, sweating or chest pain.
  • ELOXATIN can cause nerve problems. Tell your doctor right away if you become sensitive to cold temperatures and cold objects; have trouble breathing, swallowing or saying words; experience jaw tightness, odd feelings in your tongue, or chest pressure; pain; tingling or burning in your hands, feet or around your mouth or throat.
  • Tell your doctor if you develop a dry cough or have trouble breathing; these may be signs of serious lung disease.
  • ELOXATIN can cause liver problems (hepatotoxicity); your doctor will do blood tests to watch for this.
  • Because of the potential risk of fetal harm, pregnant women should not receive ELOXATIN. Women of childbearing potential should avoid becoming pregnant while receiving ELOXATIN.
  • ELOXATIN can cause a decrease in white blood cells, which can lead to infections. Tell your doctor right away if develop any of the following signs of infection: fever, chills, or shivering; cough that brings up mucus, burning or pain on urination, pain on swallowing; sore throat; or redness or swelling at injection site.
  • Other common side effects of ELOXATIN include a decrease in white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and tiredness.
  • Tell your doctor about all the medications you take, including prescription and non-prescription medications, vitamins and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of ELOXATIN. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

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