Malnutrition and it's consequences
Learn to spot the signs
Consequences of treatment
Nausea, loss of appetite, a change to your sense of taste and tiredness are just some of the side effects that you may face during the course of your treatment. Consequently, people often lose weight unintentionally, which may lead to malnutrition.
Ensuring your body is well supplied with energy, protein, vitamins and minerals will help form a strong basis to which can fend off malnutrition and help you manage some of the common side effects associated with treatment.
Changes that influence nutritional status during cancer and cancer treatment
- Loss of appetite
- Change in your sense of taste
- Inflammation of the mucous membranes (mucositis), causing pain when swallowing and/or chewing
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Digestive problems, constipation or diarrhoea
- Exhaustion, tiredness and fatigue
- Depression
- Weight loss
Spotting the first signs of malnutrition
- Poor appetite
- Unintentional weight loss in the past 3 – 6 months
- Feeling tired all the time
- Weak muscles and lethargy
- Side effects from therapy influencing food intake, e.g. pain or dryness in mouth or throat, nausea, diarrhoea
Keep a positive attitude and stay active
Sometimes it is hard to remain optimistic, but a strong mind is a major factor in retaining your motivation and zest for life.
- Talk to friends and family members about your feelings and fears. Don’t carry your worries around with you all on your own.
- If possible try to get regular exercise by walking, cycling or even some light training every day. Exercise strengthens the muscles, improves your emotional mood and helps to ensure that your digestion remains regular.
- A trust-based relationship with the treating physicians is the most important requirement for successful therapy. Make use of the experience and knowledge of the medical specialists and nutritional advisers.
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If you feel you need additional support contact Lifeline or the Cancer Council, who have the resources to support you.
Read how Tina gets help
As Tina's therapy began it greatly affected her appetite and her energy and she started to lose weight unintentionally. Tina asked her dietitian for advice on how to manage and counteract her weight loss and fatigue.
Tina's dietitian recommended that she change her eating habits by introducing small but frequent meals and snacks and also to incorporate a high energy, high protein oral nutrition supplement. This increased Tina's nutrient intake and she started to find her energy and strength again, which also helped her get through the treatment cycles.