Nutrition and Cancer

Question 1

Why is nutrition significant to cancer?

Answer 1

Obesogenic lifestyles increases the risk of cancer whilst increased fruits and vegetables reduces the risk

Question 2

How can cancer affect nutrition?

Answer 2

Cancer can compromise nutrition before it is diagnosed

Question 3

What is cachexia?

Answer 3

One of the most common causes of death in people with cancer. It is the breakdown of skeletal muscle and abnormalities in fat and carbohydrate metabolism

Question 4

Which factors are involved in the muscle wasting and anorexia involved with cancer?

Answer 4

Alterations in metabolism
Alterations in physiology
Insufficient dietary intake
Physical impairment of deglutition

Question 5

How can nutrition therapy aid cancer patients?

Answer 5

Prevent/ correct nutritional deficiencies
Minimise weight loss
Manage complication that impair food intake

Question 6

How can nutrition therapy be carried out?

Answer 6

Supplement feeding
Advice regarding food
Enteral feeding
Total parenteral feeding
Pharmacological agents
Nutraceutical agents

Question 7

How does metabolism change when you have cancer?

Answer 7

Catabolism goes up hugely
Protein synthesis decreases
Increased gluconeogenesis and urea excretion