Nutrition Therapy Nutrition Therapy for Cancer Patients Fatima Chaudhry

Why Nutrition for Cancer? Nutrition is an important part of cancer treatment. Healthy food Feel Better Stay Healthy

Benefits of Good Nutrition During Cancer Treatment Keep up your energy and strength Maintain weight and body store for nutrients Better tolerate treatment related side effects Faster recovery Lower risk for infection

Screening and assessment may include questions about the following:  Weight changes over the past year.  Changes in the amount and type of food eaten  Problems that have affected eating  Ability to walk and do other activities of daily living Screening and Assessment before the Cancer Treatment

Early nutrition screening and assessment help to find problems:  How the patient's body can deal with the effects of cancer treatment  Underweight or malnourished patients  Help the patient gain weight or prevent weight loss  Decrease problems with the treatment, and help recovery. Finding and Treating Nutrition Problems Early

A nutrition support team will check the patients nutritional health during the treatment and recovery. Team may include:  Physician  Registered dietitian  Nurse  Psychologist Healthcare Team

Main Goals for Nutrition Therapy The main goals of nutrition therapy for patients in active treatment & recovery are to  Provide nutrients that are missing  Maintain nutritional health  Prevent problems

Healthcare team will use nutrition to do the following:  Prevent or treat nutrition problems, preventing muscle and bone loss  Decrease side effects of cancer treatment and problems that affect nutrition  Keep up the patient's strength and energy  Help the immune system fight infection  Help the body recover and heal  Keep up or improve the patient's quality of life

The goal of nutrition therapy for patients who have advanced cancer The goals of nutrition therapy for patients who have advanced cancer include the following:  Control side effects.  Lower the risk of infection.  Keep up strength and energy.  Improve or maintain quality of life. Information on advance cancer: #Section_190 #Section_190  #Section_190 #Section_190

Nutrition Support… Nutritional support is given to patient who is not able to take in enough food by mouth BY USEING Enteral nutrition (through a tube inserted into the stomach or intestines) Parenteral nutrition (infused into the bloodstream)

Nutrition Support The nutrients are given in liquid formulas that have  Water  Protein  Fats  Carbohydrates  Vitamins/Minerals  The healthcare provider and patient should discuss the benefits and harms of nutrition support

Effects of Cancer Treatment on Nutrition… Nutrition and Surgery Increases the body’s need for nutrition and energy. The body needs extra energy and nutrients to:  Heal wounds  Fight infection  Recover from surgery

Effects of Cancer Treatment on Nutrition… Nutrition therapy can relieve or decrease the side effects of surgery. Nutrition therapy may include the following:  Nutritional supplement drinks  Enteral nutrition (feeding liquid through a tube into the stomach or intestines)  Parenteral nutrition (feeding through a catheter into the bloodstream)  Medicines to increase appetite

It is common for patients to have  pain  tiredness  loss of appetite after surgery. Avoid carbonated drinks (ex. sodas) & foods that cause gas, such as: Effects of Cancer Treatment on Nutrition…  Beans  Peas  Broccoli  Brussels sprouts  Green peppers  Cucumbers

Increase intake of high-protein and high-calorie foods for high energy and help wounds heal. Good choices include:  Eggs  Cheese  Whole milk  Ice cream  Nuts  Meat Effects of Cancer Treatment on Nutrition…

Effects of Cancer Treatment on Nutrition If constipation is a problem, increase fiber by small amounts and drink lots of water. Good sources of fiber include:  Whole-grain cereals (such as oatmeal)  Beans  Vegetables  Fruit  Whole-grain breads

Chemotherapy affects cells all through the body Healthy cells that normally grow and divide quickly may also be killed. These include cells  In the mouth  Digestive tract  Hair follicles

Chemotherapy may effect nutrition May cause side effects that cause problems with eating and digestion. The following side effects are common:  Loss of appetite.  Inflammation and sores in the mouth.  Changes in the way food tastes.  Feeling full after only a small amount of food.  Nausea/Vomiting.  Diarrhea.

Radiation Therapy and Nutrition.. Radiation therapy can kill cancer cells and healthy cells in the treatment area. Damage depends on the  Part of area  The total dose of radiation and how it is given

Radiation therapy to any part of the digestive system often has side effects that cause nutrition problems Some of the most common side effects include  Loss of appetite  Trouble swallowing  Nausea  Vomiting  etc… Radiation Therapy and Nutrition

Stem Cell Transplant and Nutrition… Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and medicines used for a stem cell transplant may cause side effects that keep a patient from eating Some effect may include:  Dry mouth or thick saliva  Sore throat  Nausea & Vomiting  Diarrhea  Weight loss or Weight gain  Constipation

Stem Cell Transplant and Nutrition Nutrition therapy is important who have stem cell transplant Treatment may include the following:  Cooked and processed foods only  Guidelines on safe food handling  A specific diet based on the type of transplant  Parenteral nutrition (feeding through the bloodstream) during the first few weeks after the transplant

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