Many people find they do not feel like eating as they near the end of life. This may happen because of the cancer itself or symptoms such as pain, nausea, constipation or breathlessness. It can also happen when the body’s energy needs slow down and you don’t need to eat as much.
Eat what you want when you want it
Eat what you want when you want it – don’t force yourself to eat. Eating more than you feel like might make you uncomfortable, or cause vomiting and stomach pain. Instead, try having small meals or eating little bits of your favourite foods more often. Soft foods can be easier to eat.
You could also try food-type nutritional supplements. Ask your doctor, nurse or dietitian to suggest something suitable; some are available as ready-made drinks at pharmacies.
It’s common for family and friends to keep encouraging you to eat, as preparing food for you is often how they show they care. They may worry that not eating will make you feel worse. You may need to let them know that you don’t feel like eating, and suggest other ways that they can show their love, such as sitting with you.
As the disease progresses, the body reaches a point where it can no longer absorb or get nutrients from food. You may not be able to eat, and clear fluids such as water or weak tea may be all you want. There will come a time when even water isn’t wanted, and family or friends can help keep your mouth moist.
There will come a time when even water isn’t wanted, and family or friends can help keep your mouth moist. See How you can help in the final stages.
Learn more about nutrition and cancer or listen to the podcast below.
Feeling sick
You may feel sick or have trouble keeping food down, either because of the cancer or because of side effects from medicines you’re taking. This can be distressing but your healthcare or palliative care team can help manage nausea and vomiting with anti-nausea medicines (called antiemetics).
These can be taken as tablets or, if swallowing is difficult, as wafers that dissolve on the tongue, as injections under the skin, or as suppositories, which are inserted into the bottom.
I hated certain smells and did all I could to avoid them. My mouth felt very dry, which made food unappetising. Adding extra sauce helped.
Helen
Podcast: Appetite Loss and Nausea
Listen to more episodes from our podcast for people affected by cancer
Video: How to eat well after a cancer diagnosis
Key resource
Download a PDF booklet on this topic.
Fiona Wiseman, Senior Social Worker, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Grace Berwald, Consumer; Peta Brydon, Metastatic McGrath Breast Care Clinical Nurse Consultant, The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, NSW; Kate Bunyan, Social Worker, Psychosocial Lead, Cancer and Palliative Supportive Care, Canberra Region Cancer Centre, ACT; Hayden Christie, Medical Oncologist and Clinical Director Cancer Care Service and Clinical Lead of the VAD Service for Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service, QLD; John Clements, Consumer; Claire Davies, Spiritual Care Practitioner, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Joanne Dean, Nurse Practitioner, PEACE Team, Clare Holland House, ACT; A/Prof Michael Franco, Medical Oncologist and Palliative Medicine Physician, Deputy Head – Monash Medical School, Monash University, VIC; Dr Sally Greenaway, WSLHD Director of Supportive and Palliative Care, Senior Staff Specialist Clinical Haematology and Clinical Ethics Service, NSW; Maree Grier, Clinical Psychologist, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, QLD; Dr Catherine Joyce, National Manager, Advance Care Planning Australia; Mattesse Kitchin, Consumer; Penny Neller, Project Manager, End of Life Law for Clinicians, Australian Centre for Health Law Research, Queensland University of Technology, QLD; Caitriona Nienaber 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Palliative Care Australia; A/Prof Joel Rhee, Head of Discipline of General Practice, School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, NSW.
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