Contact Details
Ph +61 7 5562 1088
Fax +61 7 5562 1099
Click here to return to the homepage

Tips -Cancer and Therapeutic Nutrition

CANCER THERAPY

Nutrition absorption can be adversely affected by cancer. This can then be compounded by therapies used to treat the tumours. During recovery from treatment, the body is going placed under extreme pressure as it is not only fighting the cancer cells, but it is working to repair any damage to healthy cells. Below are some of the conventional methods used to treat cancer, together with their potential nutritional implications.

Surgery

The effects of surgery will depend on the location and extent of surgery undertaken. Some common surgeries include:

  •  Gastrointestinal Surgery – impaired nutrient absorption, particularly fat.
  •  Head and Neck Surgery – interference with chewing and swallowing
  •  Pancreatectomy – possible secondary occurrence of diabetes mellitus

Radiation Therapy

The nutritional effects of radiation therapy will depend on the location and dose of radiation received. Radiation therapy can have various effects on a person’s ability to absorb nutrients.

These include:

  •  Impaired salivary secretion
  •  Altered taste sensation
  •  Nausea and/or loss of appetite
  •  Sore mouth/throat
  •  Esophageal irritation
  •  Diarrhea
  •  Gastric ulcers
  •  Enteritis
  •  Mal-absorption
  •  Weight loss

Chemotherapy

Nausea and vomiting are common side-effects of most chemotherapy agents. These can have further effects on nutritional absorption which include:

  •  Reduced food intake
  •  Weakness/lethargy
  •  Fluid and electrolyte imbalance
  •  Weight loss

Other negative impacts of chemotherapy are mucosal damage, appetite suppression, malabsorption syndrome, vitamin deficiencies, constipation and diarrhoea. The event and degree of these effects will vary depending on the agent used.

Immunotherapy

This type of therapy aims to stimulate the immune system. This treatment can cause flu-like symptoms including:

  •  Chills
  •  Fever
  •  Malaise
  •  Nausea
  •  Body aches


LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW NUTRITIONAL MANAGEMENT CAN SUPPORT TREATMENT OF MEDICAL CONDITIONS

Study with a highly qualified and Professional Nutritional Scientist

Click for details about our Therapeutic Nutrition Course

 




  2012 is ACS's 33rd year in business! Click here to read about our history.

Subscribe to the ACS Newsletter

Subscribe for Special Offers, New Services, Courses, Books, Opportunities, Free Stuff and more!