Nutritional Theraphy in Cancer Patients

Nutrition is the process when the body uses food for form of energy, maintain health, growth, and to continuing the normal functioning of each organ and tissu. Normal nutritional status describes the fine balance between intake nutrition with nutritional needs. Nutritional deficiencies give undesirable effects on the structure and function of almost all organs and body systems. Malnutrition and Cachexia frequently occurs in cancer patients (24% in stage Early and> 80% at an advanced stage), AIDS and other chronic diseases. Malnutrition and Cachexia increase morbidity and mortality and decreased quality of life, "Survival" of patients. Generally, Patients with malnutrition  can not tolerate therapy including chemotherapy and radiation have more tendency to "adverase effect" on cancer therapy.

Cachexia is a state of malnutrition characterized by anorexia, weight loss, muscle wasting, asthenia, depression, chronic nausea and anemia are usually cause psychological distress, changes in body composition, disruptions in metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins, tissue fluid, acid-base balance, levels of vitamins and electrolytes.

Anorexia is the lack of desire to eat and show that a person does not have an interest (interest) on all food, definition of control of food intake is influenced by a variety of complex organs, environment and peripheral mechanisms (intestinal wall contribute to the regulation of apetite and react to mechanical stimuli such as peptide produced in intestines, among others cholecycstokinin, somatostatin , glucagons) and central (lane hipotalamaus: influenced by perciuman, soy sauce flavor, visual stimuli, temperature, gastrointestinal stimuli through N.vagus, glucose and amino acids in the blood and cortical centers: influenced by the environment, cultural, economic and emotional factors).

Malnutrition is the loss / weight loss above 10% or weight less than 80% ideal weight, within a period of 3 month.When a person is diagnosed with cancer, then nutrition is part of therapy. The main objective nutritional therapy in cancer patients is to maintain or improve the nutritional status so as to minimize the occurrence of complications increase the effectiveness of cancer therapy (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation) quality of life and patient survival . 

THE PREVALENCE OF MALNUTRITION

The prevalence of malnutrition in cancer patients depends on tumor type, stage, organ involved, anticancer therapy, non-malignant conditions that accompany such diabetes mellitus, gastrointestinal diseases and others. In the multicenter study against 12 types of cancer, the prevalence decreased of body weight (BW) by 31% -40% in patients with breast cancer, hematologic cancer and sarcoma; 54% -64% in patients with colon cancer, prostate and lung> 80% in patients with pancreatic cancer and stomach and found the most severe weight loss. Cancer therapy also affects the nutritional status of patients. In a study obtained> 40% of patients who received cancer treatment (surgery, chemotherapy and radiation) are malnourished.