We all know how important it is to eat a varied and nourishing diet. When we are unwell this is particularly important, and yet people who experience difficulties with their breathing often find it difficult to consume adequate amounts. Some commonly asked questions and issues are:

How can I eat when I have to wear an oxygen mask?

• nourishing drinks and soups can be drunk through a flexible straw placed under your mask
• try not to drink too much tea, coffee, squash or water as these are low in energy and can fill you up. Instead, try full cream milk, milky coffee, yoghurt drinks, or supplement drinks such as Build-up, Complan or Vitafood.
• You may wish to ask your doctor about the possibility of using a nasal tube for your oxygen.

If find it tiring preparing and eating food

• frozen, chilled or packet convenience meals can be useful and can be as nutritious as freshly prepared meals
• make several portions of meals and freeze them for use on days when you feel less like cooking - but make sure you reheat food thoroughly
• you may be entitled to have meals delivered to your house - check with your doctor, Dietitian or social worker
• try to choose soft foods, such as well cooked egg dishes, soups, puddings, crustless bread with butter or margarine and a tasty topping (e.g. meat/fish paste, mashed banana, cream cheese, smooth peanut butter), or you may like to experiment with mashing, mincing or liquidising foods.
• nourishing drinks can also be useful

For further information click to go to "Breathlessness"

Further general information Your doctors and specialist nurses are in an ideal position to give you relevant information on your disease and treatment as they know your individual circumstances. Cancerbackup has a help line (0808 800 1234) and a prize winning video available in English, Italian, Urdu, Bengali, Gujarati & Hindi explaining Radiotherapy & Chemotherapy. Cancernet.co.uk has over 500 pages describing cancer, its management, practical tips and tool which patients, their carers and their doctors have found helpful during the cancer journey.