Food safety and hygiene during cancer treatment

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During cancer treatment, patients may experience some problems such as low white blood cells, so it is important to avoid exposure to infectious agents. In particular, the handling of food in the diets of these subjects must be very thorough and careful.

1. Food safety and hygiene during cancer treatment

Cancer and its treatments can weaken your body's immune system by affecting the blood cells that protect us against disease and germs. As a result, your body cannot fight off infections and diseases like the body of a healthy person.
During cancer treatment, there will be times when your body cannot protect itself. This is because you may not have enough white blood cells to fight infection for a while. Your doctor will likely ask you to try to avoid exposure to germs that can cause infections. It is important to know that you cannot increase your white blood cell count by avoiding or eating certain foods.

2. Some ways are applied to the cancer treatment diet

2.1. Food handling Planning and preparing food for cancer treatment while your immune system is recovering should ensure the following:
Wash your hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds before and after preparing food. prepare food and before eating. Refrigerate food at or below 4 degrees Celsius. Keep hot food hot (warmer than 60 degrees Celsius) and cold food cold (4 degrees Celsius colder). Thaw meat, fish, or poultry in the microwave or refrigerator in a dish to catch the drops. Do not defrost at room temperature. Use defrosted food immediately and do not refreeze. Place perishable foods in the refrigerator within 2 hours of buying or preparing them. Egg dishes and foods made with cream and mayonnaise should not be left in the refrigerator for more than an hour. Wash fruits and vegetables under running water before peeling or slicing. Do not use soaps, detergents, chlorine bleach solutions, or commercial product cleaners. Using a clean vegetable washer, wash produce with thick, rough skins or skins (melons, potatoes, bananas, etc.) or any produce with dirt. Rinse each leaf of leafy vegetables under running water. Rinse packaged salads, shaved ice mixes, and other prepared products under running water, even if pre-washed. Do not eat raw sprouts. Discard moldy or crushed fruits and vegetables. Don't buy pre-cut produce at the grocery store (like melons or cabbage). Wash canned foods with soap and water before opening. Use different utensils to stir foods and taste them while cooking. Do not taste food (or allow others to taste it) with any utensils that will enter the food. Throw away cracked or bruised eggs. Throw away food that has a strange smell

2.2. Avoid cross-contamination Cancer treatment diet needs to ensure and adhere to strict regulations on hygiene.
Use clean knives to cut different foods. In the refrigerator, keep raw meat covered and away from ready-to-eat foods. Keep food separate on the countertop. Use a different cutting board for raw meat. Clean countertops and cutting boards with hot soapy water or you can use a fresh solution of 1 part bleach and 10 parts water. Moist disinfecting wipes can be used if they are manufactured for use around food. When grilling, always use a clean plate to cook. 2.3. Cook food Place a meat thermometer in the center of the thickest part of the food to check for doneness. To check the accuracy of the thermometer, you should apply it by placing the thermometer in boiling water. Cook the meat until the meat is no longer pink and the water is clear. Using a food thermometer is the only way to know for sure that meat is cooked to the right temperature. Meats should be cooked to 71 degrees Celsius and poultry to 82 degrees Celsius. 2.4. Microwave cooking Turn the plate a quarter turn once or twice during cooking if there is no turntable in the microwave. This helps prevent cold spots in food where bacteria can live. Use a lid or vented food wrap to thoroughly reheat leftovers. Stir frequently while reheating. 2.5. Food choices in supermarkets or convenience stores Check the expiry date of the product. Products including meat, poultry or seafood that have passed their expiry date should not be purchased. Choose only the freshest products. Do not use damaged, blistered, rusted, or deeply dented cans. Furthermore, the product packaging of packaged and canned foods is properly sealed. Choose fruits and vegetables that are free of stains. Do not eat cold food. In bakeries, avoid desserts and cakes with unrefrigerated cream and custard. Do not eat food purchased from self-service or bulk containers. Do not eat yogurt and ice cream products from soft serve machines. Do not eat free food samples. Do not use cracked or unrefrigerated eggs.

2.6. Eat outside Eating early to avoid crowds is one of the cancer treatment steps that you need to keep in mind. Food at restaurants and bars must ensure fresh requirements. once and avoid self-service bulk condiments. Do not eat from high-risk food sources, including salad bars, snacks, buffets and snack bars, noodle soups and street vendors. Do not eat raw fruits and vegetables when eating out. Ask for pasteurized juice. Avoid freshly squeezed juices in restaurants. Make sure utensils are placed on clean napkins or tablecloths or pads rather than directly on the table. If you want to keep your leftovers, ask for a container and put the food in it yourself instead of having the waiter bring your food into the kitchen to do this.

3. Tips on eating and treating cancer with patients with low white blood cell count

3.1. Meat, poultry, fish, tofu and nuts Make sure all meats, poultry and fish are thoroughly cooked Use a food thermometer to make sure meat and poultry reach the proper temperature when cooking ripe. When using tofu that is not stable, cut it into 3cm or smaller cubes and boil for 5 minutes in water or broth before eating or using in recipes. You don't need to do this if using sterile, expired tofu. 3.2. Eggs Use eggs that are cooked until the yolks and whites are thick and not runny. Avoid raw or soft-cooked eggs.
3.3. Milk and dairy products Pasteurized milk, yogurt, cheese or other dairy products should be used.
3.4. Breads, cereals, rice and pasta Breads, bagels, muffins, bread rolls, cereals, crackers, pasta, pasta, potatoes and rice are safe to eat as long as they are purchased as bundles, prepackaged.

3.5. Fruits and vegetables Raw vegetables and fruits and fresh herbs are safe to eat if rinsed under running water and gently scrubbed with a vegetable brush.
Basically, cancer treatment foods need to be diverse, full of nutrients, and meet the needs of the patient. Food needs to be processed cleanly to ensure health, besides the treatment of cancer by eating requires perseverance from the patient himself.
Cancer is inherently a dangerous disease and causes a high mortality rate when infected, so to keep the health condition under control at all times, customers can use the cancer screening package. early letter at Vinmec International General Hospital.
With a team of qualified doctors combined with a system of modern equipment and machinery, the application of technology will help make an accurate diagnosis, through which the doctor will give advice on nutrition and nutrition. Best advice for patients.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

Reference source: cancer.org