What is cancer?
Cancer is the collective term given to a growth of body cells
beyond the control of normal growth regulatory mechanisms (neoplasm
or new growth). A neoplasm may then form into a mass of these
‘rebel’ cells with abnormal cell division pattern
(tumour).
What
happen to the nutritional status in cancer?
Cancerous cells compete with other bodily cells for nutrients
and therefore put the body in a state of hyper metabolism. This
condition of increased nutrient requirement that is unsatisfied
by an increased food intake in cancer is called cachexia. Cancer
cachexia is quite unlike starvation, which is rather hypo metabolism
with decreased energy that is reversed with adequate nutrition.
Cancer cachexia is characterized by loss of appetite, progressive
tissue wasting, weight loss and anaemia. Commonly experienced
is a change in taste, particularly for sweet and bitter sensations.
Why is nutrition important?
Good nutrition is very important when a child is treated for cancer.
Children with cancer often have poor appetite due to one or more
following reasons:
-
The hospital environment
-
Side effects of chemotherapy or radiation
-
Depression
-
Change in cells of mouth which may alter the way food tastes
-
Inadequate absorption of calories, vomiting and diarrhoea
How
do I know if my child is nutritionally at risk?
The dietician assesses the nutritional status by comparing your
child’s weight with the height. Your child will need nutritional
support if: -
-
He/she has a 5-10%body weight loss.
-
He/she has poor weight gain over 2-3 months
-
He/she have poor oral intake.
Nutritional
management:
Children with cancer have increased calories and protein needs.
Protein is needed for growth and to help the body repair itself.
Getting enough calories can help body grow, heal and prevent weight
loss.
Following
ideas /suggestions on how to increase your calories and proteins:
Fat gives us twice number of calories of proteins and carbohydrates
foods therefore using foods high in fat will help.
-
Butter, oil, and ghee: -
· To spread thickly on bread, toast, paratha, chapattis,
to add on rice
· To cook vegetables, meat with extra ghee or oil
· To have sweets made with ghee and butter
- Use
fortified milk (making it richer): -
· To add 4 tsp of milk powder to usual milk to increase
its calories and protein.
· To use this milk to make: kheer, ice cream, milk shake,
Vegetables, dhal, soups, Coffee, tea.
-
Always use:
· Full fat milk (buffalo’s milk)
· Cream (malai)
· Cheese
· Dahi (yoghurt)
· Ghee
· Eggs
· Honey sugar
· Condensed milk
· Nuts
· Beans and legumes (dal)
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Last
updated on 25-03-2003
