Chapter 12: Symptom Management of Cancer Therapies Flashcards
Common Nutrition Impact Symptoms of people going through cancer treatment?
anorexia, poor appetite, early satiety, constipation, diarrhea, malabsorption, dysphagia, mucositis, esophagitis, oral candidiasis, xerostomia, thick saliva, taste and smell changes, or fatigue.
What is Anorexia?
the loss of appetite or desire to eat
What are potential nutritional outcomes of anorexia?
weight loss, nutrient insufficiencies & deficiencies, dehydration
Nutrition Interventions for anorexia.
small, frequent meals of calorie-dense foods and fluids, eat in pleasant surroundings, avoiding stress or conflict at meals, eat by the clock rather than waiting for appetite or hunger cues, view eating as part of treatment, use medical nutritional beverages when eating is too hard, use easy to prepare foods, engage in light activity to stimulate appetite.
Other considerations for anorexia?
Look for other conditions that may depress appetite (constipation or depression), and look for medications that may depress appetite (meds that manage constipation, nausea, or pain)
Nutrition interventions for Early Satiety?
choose calorie dense foods or medical nutritional beverages, maximize intake when most hungry, eat small frequent meals/snacks, eat by the clock, eat by the clock rather than hunger cues, consume liquids between meals instead of with meals.
Other considerations for early satiety?
Evaluate for conditions that may slow gastric emptying (GERD, diabetes, gastroparesis, obstruction), evaluate for use of medications that may slow gastric emptying (opioids, H2 receptor antagonists, proton pump inhibitors, sucralfate, interferon, levadopa)
What is Constipation?
The decrease in frequency of bowel movements and or hard to pass stools that may be due to dehydration, medication or mechanical changes from anticancer therapy.
Potential nutrition outcomes of constipation?
infrequent or hard to pass stools, pain, early satiety, nausea, vomiting
Nutrition diagnosis of constipation?
altered GI function related to inadequate food, fluid and/or fiber intake or medications.
Nutrition interventions for constipation?
Education pt on importance of adequate hydration, fiber intake, and total food intake on bowel regularity.
Aim for 64 oz fluid per day and a slow increase to 25-35 grams of fiber per day as tolerated.
Encouraged use of hot beverages, hot cereal or high fiber food to stimulate bowel movements.
Incorporate probiotics and/or other supplements that help regular bowel movements. Engage in light activity to stimulate bowel regularity. Discuss meds that may effect bowel movements, schedule adequate bathroom time.
What is Diarrhea?
An increase of three or more stools per day as compared to usual or an increase in liquidity of bowel movements possibly caused by diet, emotional stress, inflammation or irritation of the mucosa of the intestines, medications or cancer treatment or lactose intolerance.
Nutrition diagnosis for Diarrhea?
Altered GI function related to inability to digest/absorb certain foods, anticancer treatment, and or medications.
Potential nutrition outcomes of Diarrhea?
Frequent stools, dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, weight loss, fatigue, nutrient insufficiencies and deficiencies, malnutrition.
Nutrition interventions of Diarrhea?
Identify problem foods or eating habits via food/symptom log, encourage low fat, low fiber, and or low lactose diet, avoid gas producing foods, caffeine and alcohol. Consider the use of bulking agents (soluble fiber) to control diarrhea. Avoid sugar alcohols.
What is Dysphagia?
Pain or difficulty swallowing that leads to decrease intake.
Possible causes of Dysphagia?
extrinsic compression of the esophagus, mechanical obstruction, neurological dysfunction, oral or esophageal candidasis, or sever mucositis, or esophageal radiation
Nutrition diagnosis of Dysphagia?
Inadequate oral intake related to swallowing difficulty
Potential nutrition outcomes of Dysphagia?
Dehydration, coughing, choking, feeling of “food getting stuck”, pain while swallowing, weight loss, nutrient insufficiencies and deficiencies, dehydration, malnutrition.
Nutrition interventions of Dysphagia?
Use of good posture when eating to prevent aspiration, avoid distractions and limit talking while eating, encouraged double swallows to assure food clears, encourage verbalization after drinks to assure liquids have cleared, choose moist foods of a similar texture, consider using thickeners in liquids to slow flow and allow safe swallow, avoid straws, alter food texture as needed for safe swallow.
What is oral candidiasis?
May be an opportunistic infection seen as red or white patches in the mouth due to treatment or a depressed immune status, causing taste alterations, sore mouth, and coated tongue.
Nutrition Diagnosis of candidiasis?
Inadequate food and beverage intake related to infection, taste alterations, and a sore mouth.
Potential Outcomes of Candidiasis?
sore mouth and throat, decrease in food intake, weight loss, malnutrition
Nutrition interventions for Candidiasis?
practice good oral hygiene, choose soft textured, low acid foods, avoid sugar and yeast-derived foods
What is Fatigue?
Lack of energy, tiredness, and mental fuzziness
Possible causes of Fatigue?
anemia, inadequate energy and/or protein intake, weight loss, pain, medications, acticancer treatment, dehydration, and/or sleep disturbances.
Nutrition diagnosis of Fatigue?
inadequate food and beverage intake or involuntary weight loss related to inadequate energy or protein intake, fatigue, pain or medications.
Potential outcomes of Fatigue?
poor oral intake, weight loss, weight gain, depression
Nutrition interventions for Fatigue?
Review food/fluid intake for adequacy, monitor weight and adjust calories as needed, encourage easy to prepare foods, advise use of non-perishable snacks (trail mix), consume soft, easy-to-chew foods, small frequent meals, eat well when appetite is best (morning), encouraged light ADL
Other considerations for Fatigue?
evaluate for anemia as a cause of lack of energy. Pt may need mvi
What is Malabsorption?
decreases in the ability to digest and absorb nutrients.
Possible causes of Malabsorption?
chemotherapy, surgery, medications, medical conditions, or infections
Possible symptoms of Malabsorption?
gas, bloating, gastrointestinal pain and/or diarrhea
Nutrition diagnosis of Malabsorption?
altered GI function related to disease process, infection, surgery, medications, chemotherapy, or radiation