title: Nutritional care of surgical oncology patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review nutritional management of surgical oncology patients, particularly patients with head and neck cancer and gastrointestinal malignancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Professional journal articles, published research findings, and book chapters related to the nutritional management of surgical oncology patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Meeting the nutritional needs of oncology patients is challenging. A multidisciplinary approach to the nutritional management of the surgical oncology patient is essential to ensure comprehensive care and assistance in the recovery process.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses need to have an understanding of the impact of both the disease process and surgical intervention on the nutritional needs of oncology patients to improve the quality of care and quality of life for these special populations.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick 08901, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McGuire
mesh_terms: D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D018529:Nutritional Support / Q000451:nursing*; D009859:Oncology Nursing