Importance of nutritional screening in treatment of cancer-related weight loss.
Weight loss is common in patients with cancer. Many factors, such as physiological abnormalities, response to the tumour, and treatment, contribute to this weight loss. Cancer-related weight loss affects a patient's response to treatment, as well as survival and quality of life. Several nutritional screening and assessment tools have been developed for patients with cancer. This review describes the weight loss seen in patients with cancer as well as the methods of screening for nutritional deterioration and weight loss early in a cancer diagnosis. Nutritional approaches to the supportive care of patients with cancer are also discussed.
Huhmann
Maureen B
MB
Department of Primary Care, School of Health Related Professions, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA. huhmanma@umdnj.edu <huhmanma@umdnj.edu>
Cunningham
Regina S
RS
D002100:Cachexia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition; D011788:Quality of Life; D015431:Weight Loss