For cancer patients and their families, in addition to clinical surgery, radiotherapy, drugs and other means, the most concerned issue is how to eat.
40% of patients are malnourished, and patients with malignant tumors are at high risk of developing malnutrition
The incidence of malnutrition in cancer patients can be as high as 80%, and most of them are patients with gastrointestinal tumors (such as gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, colorectal cancer, etc.).
About 20% of patients with malignant tumors die from malnutrition, not from the tumor itself.
So, how do you count malnutrition?
What are the dangers of malnutrition to cancer patients?
How can I prevent malnutrition?
Let's look down!
What is considered malnutrition?
Malnutrition includes overnutrition and undernutrition, for cancer patients, malnutrition generally refers to undernutrition, due to the lack of nutrient intake or absorption, resulting in changes in the composition of the body, resulting in physical and mental dysfunction, and affecting the clinical outcome of the disease.
There are several ways to diagnose malnutrition, but the most simple ones are body mass index and the degree of involuntary weight loss.
Body mass index (BMI):BMI = weight (kg) and square of height (m2).
Involuntary weight loss:Indicates that the weight loss is not the result of the patient's intentional actions, such as dieting, increasing the amount of exercise, etc.
A person at nutritional risk is considered malnourished if one of the following conditions is met:
bmi<18.5 kg/m2
Patients aged 70 years with a BMI of 20 kg m2 had an involuntary weight loss of 10% or 5% in 3 months without a time limit
At the age of 70 years with a BMI of 22 kg m2, involuntary weight loss of 10% or 5% in 3 months without time limit
What are the dangers of malnutrition to cancer patients?
Good nutrition is important for all cancer patients, especially those who are undergoing **. Cancer and its ** can affect a patient's nutritional needs or dietary Xi habits in a variety of ways, such as interfering with bodily functions such as taste, eating, or digestione.g. nausea, constipation) leading to loss of appetite and loss of nutrients and fluids (e.g., diarrhea, vomiting).
Once malnutrition occurs, it will cause great harm to cancer patients, mainly manifested as: decreased tolerance, reduced effect, decreased quality of life, shortened survival time, increased complications, prolonged hospital stay, increased medical costs, increased emotional and psychological problems, etc.
How can I prevent malnutrition?
Eat a reasonable diet
Tumor cells mainly use carbohydrates to provide their own energy, and the utilization rate of dry fat is poor. Therefore, a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet should be the preferred regimen for cancer patients. At the same time, in view of the prevalence of malnutrition in the tumor population and its serious consequences, the attention of dietary nutrition should run through the whole process of cancer patients**, and its principle is to ensure both nutritional balance and selective starvation of tumor cells.
Diversify the food, pay attention to the combination of meat and vegetables, thickness and fineness. It is recommended that cancer patients consume cereals, potatoes, fish, poultry, eggs, milk, beans, vegetables and fruits and other foods every day, and try to consume more than 12 kinds of foods every day.
Eat a high-protein diet. Cancer patients have large protein digestion, and the recommended daily protein intake is 12-1.5g kg, such as 60kg of body weight**, the recommended protein intake is 60*12-60*1.5g, i.e. 70-90g.
Strengthen the intake of vegetables and fruits. Fresh fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber, which play an important role in the body's physiological functions and anti-tumor processes.
Refuse pickled or stale, smoked, fried, greasy food, less oil and less salt.
Quit smoking and limit alcohol. Cigarettes contain 60 kinds of carcinogens, the sooner you quit smoking, the better, any time to quit smoking is good for the body, for cancer patients, it is definitely necessary to quit completely. Try not to drink alcohol, if you drink it in moderation.
02.Monitor your weight regularly
Patients with cancer are advised to have their weight measured monthly and have regular physical examinations. For patients who have just been discharged from the hospital, it is recommended to monitor their weight every week within one month of discharge, and if the weight has dropped significantly by 3 or 5 pounds in one week after discharge, the diet should be adjusted in time. If you lose more than 5% of your weight within a month, or more than 10% within 6 months, you should consult a nutritionist or go to the hospital for relevant examinations.
03.Exercise appropriately
In general, moderate exercise before, during, and after is safe and beneficial. Exercise can not only affect and change the tumor microenvironment, inhibit or reverse some metabolic pathways in tumors, but also prevent its occurrence by reducing and improving the risk factors for tumorigenesis, which can help patients improve appetite and digestive function, improve fatigue, reduce muscle loss, and delay muscle decline.
Patients with cancer should spend less time sitting or staying in bed. It is recommended to do 20-30 minutes of activity 3 or more times a week, combining aerobic and resistance exercises. Common aerobic exercises include brisk walking, jogging, Baduanjin, and Tai Chi. Resistance exercises restore and develop muscle strength and are widely used for muscle atrophy caused by a variety of causes, including push-ups, sit-ups, squats, pull-ups, etc. Cancer patients should choose the appropriate exercise mode and amount according to their physical condition.
Note:Exercise varies from person to person, so you need to do it according to your ability and step by step, especially to avoid injuries and falls.