Nutritional Side Effects of Cancer Treatments
Rays that are directed at the proliferating epithelium located in the area of the thick and small intestine has a negative effect on the patient’s nutrition (Boussios, Pentheroudakis, Katsanos, & Pavlidis, 2012). Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea after the chemotherapy are caused by damage to the intestinal epithelium (Boussios et al., 2012). Therefore, in most cases, attempts to overcome the liquid defecation with drugs are not effective. Diarrhea leads to dehydration, which negatively affects the condition of the whole body. A person loses proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates, which may lead to asthenia (Boussios et al., 2012).
To optimize the work of the stomach, it is necessary to use the biotic agents. In especially severe cases, a patient with cancer needs intravenous infusion of glucose, plasma, blood substitutes, and electrolytes (Miraghajani, Jolfaie, Mirzaie, Ghiasvand, & Askari, 2015). Also, the physician has to prescribe the use of multivitamins, antibiotics, and medicines that stop diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting (Miraghajani et al., 2015). Moreover, a doctor may resort to treatment with antibiotics. After this, the primarily objective is to achieve a normal flora in the intestine (Miraghajani et al., 2015). To this end, the physician uses biotic medicines.
Along with medicinal nutritional therapy, it is crucial to select a proper diet. Nutrition for diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting after chemotherapy should be rich in proteins, which are easily digested. It is also recommended to eat foods high in potassium (Lavdaniti, 2014). The amount of water consumed during the day should be at least two-three liters (Lavdaniti, 2014). Cooked meals must be eaten warm because too cold or hot food can irritate the intestines (Lavdaniti, 2014). It is also advisable to chew the food thoroughly so that it is in bland and soft form.
Before appointing nutritional therapy, the dietitian should consider the emotional condition of the patient, take into account his/her mood and dedicate the family to a possible prognosis. For sure, the emotional condition of a patient who experiences severe nutrition complications after chemotherapy is unfavorable (Santarpia, Contaldo, & Pasanisi, 2011). Therefore, before prescribing nutrition therapy, the physician should prepare the patient and family for possible difficulties and show the importance of treatment.
References
Boussios, S., Pentheroudakis, G., Katsanos, K., & Pavlidis, N. (2012). Systemic treatment-induced gastrointestinal toxicity: Incidence, clinical presentation and management. Annals of Gastroenterology, 25(2). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3959393/
Lavdaniti, M. (2014). A nursing perspective of nutrition in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Health Science, 4(2). Retrieved from http://progress.umb.edu.pl/sites/progress.umb.edu.pl/files/131-134%20Lavdaniti.pdf
Miraghajani, M., Jolfaie, N., Mirzaie, S., Ghiasvand, R., & Askari, G. (2015). The effect of glutamine intake on complications of colorectal and colon cancer treatment: A systematic review. Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 20(9). http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/1735-1995.170634
Santarpia, L., Contaldo, F., & Pasanisi, F. (2011). Nutritional screening and early treatment of malnutrition in cancer patients. Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, 2(1), 27-35. …
