Tap water should be safe when it comes from a city water supply or a city well that supplies many people with water. It does not need to be filtered. You should boil water that comes from a private well or a small local well, even if you have a filter.
Sparkling water, smoothies, juices, milk, tea and even coffee count toward your daily fluid goal. It's important to limit caffeine, which may increase urination and loss of sodium, making it more difficult to keep your body hydrated. Alcohol also is actually dehydrating and should be avoided.
Nagi Kumar, director of cancer chemoprevention at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, feels it is, and recommends that her patients drink bottled water from a reputable source. Her advice is to look for the words “reverse osmosis” on the label, which indicate that the water was cleaned in a specific way.
Keep a beverage by your side and take sips throughout the day. Fluids help the body flush out waste and toxins, and help decrease fatigue, constipation, nausea, and physical weakness. Focus on staying well-hydrated during cancer treatment to prevent the risk of dehydration and help your body heal and recover.
Green, Black and White Teas
Black, green, white and also oolong teas (sometimes called “true teas”) are rich in many disease-fighting nutrients, such as catechins, polyphenol compounds, epigallocatechin gallate (or EGCG), flavonols and more.
Drinks to Avoid
If you're suffering from constipation from medication or diarrhea from chemo, definitely avoid fizzy drinks such as soda and energy drinks, as they can give you gas. Give your mouth tissues a break, too, by avoiding acidic drinks like lemonade or orange juice that can burn a sore mouth.
Try to have 8 to 10 glasses of fluid a day. Your doctor might suggest drinks that contain salts and electrolytes to replace the lost fluid. They can also give you medicines to help with the cause of your dehydration, such as anti sickness medicines.
Dehydration Symptoms:
Dry mucous membranes (dry mouth) Your skin may appear loose and crinkled and could keep standing up in a tent when lightly pinched and pulled up. Secretions may become thick and dry.
Unwashed fresh fruits and vegetables, especially leafy vegetables that can hide dirt and other contaminants. Unpasteurized fruit juice or cider. Raw sprouts like alfalfa sprouts. Raw or undercooked beef (especially ground beef) or other raw or undercooked meat and poultry.
Drink beverages such as diluted fruit juice, milk, buttermilk, lemonade, ginger ale or sports drinks. Choose desserts that aren't as sweet, such as yogurt, custard, pumpkin pie, fruit, baked fruit, fruit with cottage cheese, fruit crumble, plain doughnuts, or graham crackers.
Some of the best foods to eat during chemotherapy or other cancer treatments are plant-based proteins. They offer the highest levels of vitamins and minerals, Rajagopal says. This means eating lots of vegetables as well as beans, legumes, nuts and seeds.
Drinking plenty of water before and after treatment helps your body process chemotherapy drugs and flush the excess out of your system.
Drink warm liquids like herbal tea, and drink 100% prune juice. Diarrhea: Eat small, frequent meals and snacks, separating liquids from solids. Make sure you are adequately hydrated with electrolyte-rich fluids like broth, coconut water, and healthy sports drinks.
Drink plenty of room-temperature liquids to help prevent dehydration. These might include water, teas, Gatorade, ginger ale, peach or apricot nectar or fruit juices. Limit caffeinated beverages.
For most people the side effects were worst in the first few days after treatment, then they gradually felt better until the next treatment. Some said the effects were worse with each successive treatment. Most side effects don't persist and disappear within a few weeks after the end of treatment.
Is there any risk to family and friends? You may worry about the safety of family and friends while you are having chemotherapy. There is little risk to visitors (including children, babies and pregnant women) because they aren't likely to come into contact with any chemotherapy drugs or body fluids.
For the purposes of this paper, the equivalents to bear in mind are that eight 8-oz glasses equal 1,893 ml, or 2 qt, or ½ gal (US), or roughly 1.9 liters.
Following the tips below will help protect your skin from damage and infection: Bathe every day and use warm water. Avoid soaking in spas or hot tubs. Use a mild soap for bathing.
Flush the toilet twice after you use it. Put the lid down before flushing to avoid splashing. If possible, you may want to use a separate toilet during this time. If this is not possible, wear gloves to clean the toilet seat after each use.
Eat Light Ahead of Time
Two to three hours before an infusion, eat a light, high-fiber snack. The drugs commonly used to prevent nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy can also be constipating. Between staying hydrated and eating fiber, you should gain the upper hand on constipation.
"Cancer-fighting foods"
The list is usually topped with berries, broccoli, tomatoes, walnuts, grapes and other vegetables, fruits and nuts. "If you look at the typical foods that reduce cancer risk, it's pretty much all plant foods that contain phytochemicals," says Wohlford.
Short, planned delays in chemotherapy for good-risk GCT patients (less than or equal to 7 days per cycle) appear to be acceptable since they may prevent serious toxicity in this curable patient population. Delays of longer than 7 days are strongly discouraged except in extraordinary life-threatening circumstances.