Lymphomalife.net

Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite can be caused by indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Loss of appetite may also be a result of treatment, as both radiotherapy and chemotherapy can cause nausea, while chemotherapy drugs can sometimes make food taste different, both of which can make eating less appealing.

If your disease has relapsed, or you are undergoing treatment again you may begin noticing symptoms like these. It is important that you try and do something about weight loss as it can mean that you become malnourished, which will make you feel tired more quickly and be more vulnerable to infections.

Importantly, if you become malnourished you are also less likely to be able to cope with treatments, such as chemotherapy. You may be more likely to have delays in your treatment due to, for example, your blood count being too low to have the next course of drugs.

Your healthcare team may refer you to a dietician

A dietician might be able to help you increase your appetite and help increase your weight. They may prescribe nutritional supplements such as high-energy drinks, which can also help if you are having difficulty swallowing or have a sore throat as a result of treatment.

A well-balanced diet is important

There are many different diets described in books, newspapers and magazines. However, it is important that you maintain a well-balanced diet, so always ask your healthcare team or dietician for advice, as not all diets will be appropriate.
However, there are some adjustments that you can try that might make your meals more appealing and help increase your weight.

Try to:

• Eat smaller meals more often, including snacks, such as biscuits, toast, cheese and crackers, between meals
•  Avoid the preparation of food, if possible
• Eat cold food rather than hot food and avoid food with strong odours
• Use full-cream milk and full-fat yoghurts instead of low-fat alternatives
• Use extra butter, margarine or oil on bread, potatoes, pasta, rice and vegetables, and extra mayonnaise or oil-based salad dressings on sandwiches and salads
• Add extra cheese to pizzas, sauces, soups and pasta
• Use – extra honey or sugar with cereals, drinks, fruit and vegetables

It is also possible that some diets that might ordinarily seem healthy might actually harm a patient with NHL if they have a higher risk of infection. This can happen if, for example, you experience low numbers of blood cells after chemotherapy. In this case, salads, raw meat or blue cheese should be avoided, as there is an increased risk of infection from such foods.