Nutrition for patients after breast cancer surgery

This is an automatically translated article.

Nutritional care for patients after breast cancer surgery is also very important, it greatly affects the patient's recovery. Therefore, the "what to eat breast cancer surgery" is a matter of concern.

1. The important role of nutrition after breast cancer surgery

After any surgery, the patient also needs special care. Breast cancer surgery is no exception, after surgery the patient's body is still very weak. Therefore, a proper nutritional care regimen will help the recovery process faster.
In order to minimize complications after breast cancer surgery, patients need to have a really good diet, help their health recover quickly and avoid the following effects.

2. What does breast cancer surgery eat?

"What to eat after breast cancer surgery" is a matter of concern, because it directly affects the patient's recovery process. During breast cancer surgery, the patient may lose a lot of blood, the body is severely exhausted, lose fluids, the incision is painful and it may fester or leave a scar. Therefore, nutritional solutions for patients after surgery need to be applied and implemented immediately.
When performing breast cancer surgery but the patient has not regained consciousness, it is not possible to put food directly into the body. So, the doctor will infuse nutrients into the body through a vein.
After regaining consciousness, the patient will receive special nutritional care, helping the body to recover faster and the incision to heal faster. Foods that contain all the nutrients that the body needs after breast cancer surgery are:
Foods rich in protein but low in fat such as: Beef, eggs, milk, chicken, fish, cheese ,... These are all nutrients to compensate for the lack of energy during surgery, help heal the incision and fight infection. Foods rich in iron such as: Lamb, goat meat, beef, liver,... Foods rich in vitamin A include: Carrots, tomatoes, pumpkins, egg yolks, papayas,... Foods rich in vitamins C such as: oranges, tangerines, grapefruits, pineapples, spinach, ... Supplementing with selenium by sea fish, tomatoes, clams, oysters,... Foods containing antioxidants will help protect cells and Prevent cancer: Green vegetables, liver, blueberries, carrots and many other fruits. Supplying beta-carotene to the body, this substance is commonly found in: Carrots, papaya, sweet potatoes, pumpkin and orange fruits. According to many studies, beta-carotene has the ability to reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer. Increase lycopene: This substance will help prevent the recurrence of breast cancer. Add nuts, soybeans, grains: These are all foods that contain estrogen, which helps the body fight breast cancer-causing cells. In addition, the patient should also listen to the opinion of a medical professional to know which foods should not be eaten after breast cancer surgery. Avoid affecting the recovery and causing problems to the body.
At this time, the sick person should only eat about 300g of beef in a week. Should limit the use of alcoholic beverages, processed foods such as cold cuts, sausages, smoked meat, bacon. Do not eat salty, fermented foods such as pickles, pickled tomatoes. Foods that are processed at high temperatures such as deep-fried, greasy foods or baked goods at high temperatures must be limited in consumption.

3. Dietary reference for patients after breast cancer surgery

Patients after breast cancer surgery need to immediately develop a nutritional menu to gradually supplement nutrients, speeding up recovery. The following is the nutritional regimen for the patient:
From 12-24 hours after surgery: The patient should eat soon after regaining consciousness, start the bowels with diluted porridge, milk or fruit juice. Feed the patient from 50-100ml each time and 4-6 times/day. Combined with intravenous infusion. From 24 to 48 hours after surgery: The diet will gradually increase, energy and protein (about 500kcal and 30 grams of protein) should be given priority, preferably light, soft, liquid foods (such as porridge, pho, vermicelli, vermicelli, soup,...). Additional snacks with fresh fruit or pure fruit juice, milk, cookies, yogurt. Food should be cooked in a soft, stewed form. From the fourth day on, the diet needs to provide an adequate amount of calories and protein for the body to recover quickly and speed up the recovery after surgery. Increase the intake of foods rich in energy and easy to absorb such as meat, fish, eggs, milk, shrimp, crab, seafood... Eat a variety of vegetables and fruits to increase antioxidants. Hopefully, the tips above will help patients answer the question "what to eat after breast cancer surgery". Although nutrition is very important, exercise will also bring significant benefits to patients. Always keep a comfortable mood, optimistic spirit and combine with the guidance from the doctor to help the body recover as quickly as possible.

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.