Nutrition and cancer

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Managing eating problems during treatment - V

Swallowing difficulties

Sometimes chewing and swallowing becomes difficult even if it is not painful. Talk to your healthcare team if you are coughing or choking while eating. Keep in mind to:

* Try different food textures to find one that you can swallow. Foods with a smooth texture like mashed potatoes may be easier to swallow.

* Use a blender or food processor to chop foods that are too hard to chew. Use fruit or vegetable juices, broth, or milk to blend the food together.

* Thicken liquids as much as needed to make them easier to swallow. Adding gelatin, puréed vegetables or fruit, instant potatoes, cornstarch, infant rice cereal or commercial thickeners may help as well.

* Dip dry, crisp foods such as biscuits into milk, coffee or tea to make them softer.

* Make every mouthful count by choosing foods and drinks that are high in protein and high in calories.

* Make sure your diet includes plenty of liquids every day so that you don't get dehydrated. Juices, slushies, soups, milk, popsicles, gelatine, pudding, yogurt and ice cream are good sources of liquids

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