Question

This week's discussion board will focus on cancer, a topic very near and dear to my heart, as I lost my first husband in his early 30's over 10 years ago to stage IV brain cancer, so I not only have a lot of experience professionally but also personally in this space.

We all know or have known someone touched by the deadly condition. It's a very devastating disease that affects millions of lives per year. Still, we don't have a strong handle on how exactly some cancers form in the body and what they are caused from- still determined to be "unknown". Nutrition is extremely critical though, to help prevent cancer, but more importantly if you have developed it, to help aid in healing throughout the treatment process. Surgery, radiation and chemotherapy can all take an extreme toll on the body and there are a lot of side effects patients experience which render them malnourished. You can choose to discuss an important type of supplement or food that cancer patients should focus on to assist their body through treatments OR choose to discuss an alternative therapy that individuals use to combat side effects of the treatment and how that is tied to their nutrition.

Answer 1

Ans=

Good nutrition is important for cancer patients.

Nutrition is a process in which food is taken in and used by the body for growth, to keep the body healthy, and to replace tissue. Good nutrition is important for good health. Eating the right kinds of foods before, during, and after cancer treatment can help the patient feel better and stay stronger. A healthy diet includes eating and drinking enough of the foods and liquids that have important nutrients (vitamins, minerals, protein, carbohydrates, fat, and water) the body needs.

cancer patients may take dietary supplements.

A dietary supplement is a product that is added to the diet. It is usually taken by mouth, and usually has one or more dietary ingredients. Cancer patients may take dietary supplements to improve their symptoms or treat their cancer.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a nutrient that the body needs in small amounts to function and stay healthy. It helps fight infection, heal wounds, and keep tissues healthy. Vitamin C is found in fruits and vegetables. It can also be taken as a dietary supplement.

See the PDQ summary on High-Dose Vitamin C for more information about the use of intravenous high-dose vitamin C as treatment for people with cancer.

Probiotics

Probiotics are live microorganisms used as dietary supplements to help with digestion and normal bowel function. They may also help keep the gastrointestinal tract healthy.

Studies have shown that taking probiotics during radiation therapy and chemotherapy can help prevent diarrhea caused by those treatments. This is especially true for patients receiving radiation therapy to the abdomen. Cancer patients who are receiving radiation therapy to the abdomen or chemotherapy that is known to cause diarrhea may be helped by probiotics.

Melatonin

Melatonin is a hormone made by the pineal gland (tiny organ near the center of the brain). Melatonin helps control the body’s sleep cycle. It can also be made in a laboratory and taken as a dietary supplement.

Several small studies have shown that taking a melatonin supplement with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy for treatment of solid tumors may be helpful. It may help reduce side effects of treatment. Melatonin does not appear to have side effects.

Oral glutamine

Oral glutamine is an amino acid that is being studied for the treatment of diarrhea and mucositis (inflammation of the lining of the digestive system, often seen as mouth sores) caused by chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Oral glutamine may help prevent mucositis or make it less severe.

Cancer patients who are receiving radiation therapy to the abdomen may benefit from oral glutamine. Oral glutamine may reduce the severity of diarrhea. This can help the patients continue with their treatment plan

Nutrition support can be given in different ways.

In addition to counseling by a dietitian, and changes to the diet, nutrition therapy includes nutritional supplement drinks, and enteral and parenteral nutrition support. Nutritional supplement drinks help cancer patients get the nutrients they need. They provide energy, protein, fat, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They are not meant to be the patient's only source of nutrition.

A patient who is not able to take in the right amount of calories and nutrients by mouth may be fed using the following:

• Enteral nutrition: Nutrients are given through a tube inserted into the stomach or intestines.
• Parenteral nutrition: Nutrients are infused into the bloodstream.

The nutrients are given in liquid formulas that have water, protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and/or minerals.

Nutrition support can improve a patient's quality of life during cancer treatment, but may cause problems that should be considered before making the decision to use it. The patient and healthcare team should discuss the harms and benefits of each type of nutrition support. (See the Nutrition Needs at End of Life section for more information on the use of nutrition support at the end of life.)

Enteral Nutrition

Enteral nutrition is also called tube feeding.

Enteral nutrition is giving the patient nutrients in liquid form (formula) through a tube that is placed into the stomach or small intestine. The following types of feeding tubes may be used:

• A nasogastric tube is inserted through the nose and down the throat into the stomach or small intestine. This is used when enteral nutrition is only needed for a few weeks.
• A gastrostomy tube is inserted into the stomach or a jejunostomy tube is inserted into the small intestine through an opening made on the outside of the abdomen. This is usually used for long-term enteral feeding or for patients who cannot use a tube in the nose and throat.

The type of formula used is based on the specific needs of the patient. There are formulas for patients who have special health conditions, such as diabetes, or other needs, such as religious or cultural diets.

Parenteral Nutrition

Parenteral nutrition carries nutrients directly into the blood stream.

Parenteral nutrition is used when the patient cannot take food by mouth or by enteral feeding. Parenteral feeding does not use the stomach or intestines to digest food. Nutrients are given to the patient directly into the blood, through a catheter inserted into a vein. These nutrients include proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals.

Chemotherapy and hormone therapy affect nutrition in different ways.

Chemotherapy affects cells all through the body. Chemotherapy uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Healthy cells that normally grow and divide quickly may also be killed. These include cells in the mouth and digestive tract.

Hormone therapy adds, blocks, or removes hormones. It may be used to slow or stop the growth of certain cancers. Some types of hormone therapy may cause weight gain.

Chemotherapy and hormone therapy cause different nutrition problems.

Side effects from chemotherapy may cause problems with eating and digestion. When more than one chemotherapy drug is given, each drug may cause different side effects or when drugs cause the same side effect, the side effect may be more severe.

The following side effects are common:

• Loss of appetite.
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Dry mouth.
• Sores in the mouth or throat.
• Changes in the way food tastes.
• Trouble swallowing.
• Feeling full after eating a small amount of food.
• Constipation.
• Diarrhea.

Patients receiving hormone therapy may need changes in their diet to prevent weight gain.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy kills cells in the treatment area.

Radiation therapy kills cancer cells and healthy cells in the treatment area. How severe the side effects are depends on the following:

• The part of the body that is treated.
• The total dose of radiation and how it is given.

Radiation therapy may affect nutrition.

Radiation therapy to any part of the digestive system has side effects that cause nutrition problems. Most of the side effects begin two to three weeks after radiation therapy begins and go away a few weeks after it is finished. Some side effects can continue for months or years after treatment ends.

The following are some of the more common side effects:

• For radiation therapy to the brain or head and neck
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Nausea.
  • Vomiting.
  • Dry mouth or thick saliva. Medication may be given to treat a dry mouth.
  • Sore mouth and gums.
  • Changes in the way food tastes.
  • Trouble swallowing.
  • Pain when swallowing.
  • Being unable to fully open the mouth.
• For radiation therapy to the chest
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Nausea.
  • Vomiting.
  • Trouble swallowing.
  • Pain when swallowing.
  • Choking or breathing problems caused by changes in the upper esophagus.
• For radiation therapy to the abdomen, pelvis, or rectum
  • Nausea.
  • Vomiting.
  • Bowel obstruction.
  • Colitis.
  • Diarrhea.

Radiation therapy may also cause tiredness, which can lead to a decrease in appetite.

Thanku so much

Please like my answer for appreciation ?