Cancer
Oncology nutrition therapy for cancer treatment support and survivorship.
Cancer and its treatments (chemotherapy, radiation, surgery) significantly impact nutritional status, requiring specialized medical nutrition therapy to prevent or treat malnutrition, manage treatment-related side effects, and optimize treatment tolerance and outcomes. Oncology nutrition addresses unique challenges including cachexia, altered taste and smell, mucositis, nausea, and gastrointestinal toxicities while maintaining adequate nutrient intake to support immune function, wound healing, and overall quality of life throughout the cancer continuum.
Clinical Focus
1
Preventing and treating cancer-related malnutrition and cachexia through early intervention and aggressive nutritional support.
2
Managing treatment-related side effects (nausea, mucositis, diarrhea, constipation, taste changes) through dietary modifications and symptom management strategies.
3
Optimizing protein and calorie intake during active treatment to support immune function and treatment tolerance while preventing muscle wasting.
4
Post-treatment nutrition for survivorship, focusing on reducing cancer recurrence risk and managing long-term treatment effects.
Key Points
Aggressive nutritional support including oral nutrition supplements, enteral nutrition, or parenteral nutrition when oral intake is inadequate.
High-protein, high-calorie dietary modifications to meet increased metabolic demands and prevent weight loss during treatment.
Dietary patterns emphasizing whole foods, plant-based sources, and anti-inflammatory foods to support immune function.
Individualized symptom management for treatment-related toxicities, with modifications based on specific side effects and treatment phase.