Some people stop feeling interested in eating and lose weight before lung cancer is diagnosed. These symptoms may be caused by the disease itself, or by feeling sick, having difficulty swallowing, being breathless, or feeling down.
Weight loss can affect how your body responds to cancer treatment, your risk of infection, and how quickly you recover. This can happen to anyone, no matter what size. Eating well will help you cope better with treatment and side effects, and improve your quality of life.
Eating when you have little appetite
- Choose high-kilojoule and high-protein foods (e.g. add cheese or cream to meals, use full-cream milk).
- Try eating smaller portions more often (e.g. 5–6 smaller meals per day).
- Avoid drinking fluids at mealtimes, which can fill you up too quickly.
- Eat moist food, such as scrambled eggs, because it is easier to swallow.
- Eat salads or cold foods if hot food smells make you feel sick. Avoid fatty or sugary foods if these make you feel nauseous.
- Add ice-cream or fruit to a drink to increase kilojoules.
- Eat more of your favourite foods – follow your cravings.
- See a dietitian for more tips on what to eat and drink – they can suggest small changes to your diet or what protein drinks or nutritional supplements to use that can help you stay well nourished. Find a dietitian at dietitiansaustralia.org.au.
Learn more about nutrition for people living with cancer.
Podcast: Appetite Loss and Nausea
Listen to more episodes from our podcast for people affected by cancer
Key resource
Download a PDF booklet on this topic.
Dr Malinda Itchins, Thoracic Medical Oncologist, Royal North Shore Hospital and Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Dr Cynleen Kai, Radiation Oncologist, GenesisCare, VIC; Dr Naveed Alam, Thoracic Surgeon, St Vincent’s Hospital, Epworth Richmond, and Monash Medical Centre, VIC; Helen Benny, Consumer; Dr Rachael Dodd, Senior Research Fellow, The Daffodil Centre, NSW; Kim Greco, Specialist Lung Cancer Nurse Consultant, Flinders Medical Centre, SA; Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Marco Salvador, Consumer; Janene Shelton, Lung Foundation Australia – Specialist Lung Cancer Nurse, Darling Downs Health, QLD; Prof Emily Stone, Respiratory Physician, Department of Thoracic Medicine and Lung Transplantation, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, NSW; A/Prof Marianne Weber, Stream Lead, Lung Cancer Policy and Evaluation, The Daffodil Centre, NSW.
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