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Nutrition for mesothelioma patients
By Eden Ali | June 20, 2007
Whether mesothelioma patients decide on aggressive treatment of mesothelioma, or decide on only palliative treatment, nutrition plays a vital role in his or her well-being. However, the side effects of the different treatment of mesothelioma, often times makes it eating difficult, which results to malnutrition.
Doctors whose speciality is the treatment of mesothelioma, reported that a good number of mesothelioma patients loss 10% and above of their normal body weight even before making treatment decisions. The most seen and common nutritional problems facing a vast number of mesothelioma patients are:
Insufficient protein, and insufficient calories in their diet.
These mentioned nutritional requirements are very vital in the healing, provision of energy, and also in the help to fight infections.
It is therefore important that these nutrients be supplied in their diet. For patients who will be undergoing surgery, chemotherapy or other mesothelioma treatments options, intensive nutritional support is necessary and must be given to get them prepared for treatment, and for patients who will be undergoing palliative mesothelioma treatments, improving their nutrition will go a long way in offering them a better quality of life and a better general health.
Initial Assessment of Nutritional Needs
Prior assessment of the nutritional condition of a patient before mesothelioma treatments are carried out can help recognize any possible problems which can result to delay in treatment or affect life’s quality.
Such assessment may include:
- Changes in weight over a period of time;
- Variations in the amount or kinds of food taken;
- Presence of symptoms that can possibly affect the appetite, which includes nausea, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea.
The patients inability to engage in his or her normal dialy activities.
Topics: Mesothelioma nutrition therapy |