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Submitted by Dr S. Patel on 23 September 2017

Cancer and its treatment like Chemotherapy and Stem Cell Therapy can weaken your body's immune system and make you vulnerable to food borne diseases. Dr Shital Raval recommends some guidelines to help keep your food safe and prevent infections.

Cancer treatment often weakens the person’s immunity. This is called immunosuppression, a situation in which the body's immune system is made less effective usually by drugs. It puts the patient at a higher risk of contracting infections and food-borne illnesses. Following certain guidelines can help keep such infections at bay and keep the food safe.

Food safety at home:

  • Keep your kitchen counter, sink, cutting board and utensils clean.
  • Washing utensils with hot water or in dishwater is more effective in getting rid of all bacteria.
  • Wash your hands before and after all food preparation. Wash hands whenever switching between handling raw meat and other foods.
  • Always wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly in running cold water. Certain foods may need to be scrubbed with a soft brush or rinsed multiple times.
  • Use separate dishes/pots, cutting board and knives for meat/fish preparation.
  • Thaw all frozen food items in the refrigerator or microwave! Don’t leave it out on the counter.
  • Marinated foods should be kept covered in the refrigerator.
  • Use a thermometer to check if meat dishes are well cooked.
  • After shopping for groceries, return home and put all perishable foods right away in the refrigerator.
  • Check expiration dates on all food products before purchase and also when kept around for long at home.
  • Watch out for any signs of food going bad. If there is any doubt, discard it.
  • Replace and wash kitchen towels and sponges regularly.

Related Article: Practical Tips on Hygienic Practices for Cancer Patients at Home

Food safety outside home:

  • Avoid eating all raw meat (dry or cured deli meats) and raw seafood (sushi, sashimi etc).
  • Avoid salads as they are made of raw vegetables that may not be washed well.
  • Avoid raw or undercooked eggs such as runny yolks, raw cookie dough, or homemade mayonnaise.
  • Avoid buffets that may have been sitting out all day. Opt for freshly prepared meals.
  • Avoid unpasteurized drinks such as fresh fruit juices, milk, buttermilk, yogurt etc.
  • Avoid soft unpasteurized and blue cheeses like Camembert, Brie, Roquefort, Gorgonzola, Stilton, Bleu etc.
  • Avoid consuming raw sprouts outside.
  • Avoid fermented foods such as dosas, idlis, uttapams outside.
  • Avoid all street foods!
  • Avoid condiments like chutneys and homemade pickles outside.
  • Avoid tap water. Carry your own boiled water or buy bottled water.

It is highly recommended that patient stick to homemade meals and avoid outside foods. This includes avoiding consumption of excessive processed food products too. Food safety is important not only during treatment but also post therapy. So eat well and stay safe!

What is a Neutropenic diet?

Many patients undergoing chemotherapy and other cancer treatments such as stem cell transplants often see a dip in their neutrophils (a type of white blood cells). A low neutrophil level in the blood is termed as Neutropenia. It is often detected with a blood test called Absolute neutrophil count (ANC). If the count falls below 500 cells/mm3 , the patient is suggested to follow a neutropenic diet.

The Neutropenic diet is designed to protect the patient from pathogens found in food and drinks. The diet is more stringent for patients who have had a stem transplant. The diet is followed till the patient stops taking all immunosuppressive drugs or till the doctor instructs.

This diet is more a list of what foods to take and which ones to restrict. It outlines safe hygienic tips on preparation & handling of food while ensuring a nutritious, well-balanced diet required for recovery and coping with the disease.

Basic guidelines of the diet have been mentioned in this article. For a more detailed table of the Neutropenia diet please visit http://www.upmc.com/patients-visitors/education/cancer/Pages/neutropenic-diet.aspx

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