Cancer Malnutrition: What RD's Can Do

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Cancer Malnutrition: What RD's Can
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Malnutrition in cancer patients can lead to a host of issues. It can have a negative effect on treatment and therefore the patient's outcome. Malnutrition can lead to increased and more frequent hospital visits, more severe side effects, and a boost in cancer reoccurrence risk. Individuals on cancer treatments may have symptoms that vary. No two cancer cases are identical. For this reason it is important to engage with the patient and learn specifically what is causing their malnutrition. The symptoms can be anything from nausea to constipation or early satiety to mouth sores. Not all facilities have RD's on staff that are certified specialist in oncology nutrition (CSO), so it is important that all RD's know some of the basic information regarding cancer treatment and nutrition. There are even some facilities such as outpatient cancer centers that do not have RD's as part of the healthcare team so patients do not have access to nutrition education/support.  It is important that RD's work hand and hand with all members of the healthcare team to ensure that the patient is receiving the best possible care. Some of the tips on how to combat cancer malnutrition provided by this article are listed below.

 

Combating Cancer Malnutrition
By Suzanne Dixon, MPH, MS, RDN
Today's Dietitian
Vol. 18, No. 11, P. 42

Comments

  1. ksu internsMarch 1, 2017 at 8:13 PM

    This is an informative post regarding malnutrition. I agree that malnutrition cases need to be individualized based on the type of cancer as well as current signs and symptoms that the patient is experiencing. It is also essential that every RDN has basic information on how to treat a patient who is malnourished and is diagnosed with cancer. I also agree that if dietitians are active members of the healthcare team they can insure that cancer patients are receiving adequate care and they can help prevent/improve malnutrition cases in the clinical setting.

    -KM

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