For many people, losing weight is not the result of successful diet and exercise, but is a symptom of a serious illness. It’s important to take special care of yourself when undergoing cancer treatment. Cancer can deplete your body’s nutrients, have a negative effect on your appetite and on the ability to digest foods.
Optimal nutrition can help support the effectiveness of your treatment and minimize side effects such as involuntary weight loss. These side effects may be partially due to the effect of cancer itself on your body but you may also be eating less than usual due to emotional concerns. These factors combined may leave you in a vulnerable condition – high nutrient need and low nutrient intake.
During your treatments, your body will need more fuel than usual. Your body will feel the need to repair rapidly from the effects of surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy. Without this extra fuel, your body will draw upon stored fat and protein. When this happens, the result will be malnutrition and the weakening of your immune system. In order to prevent weight loss, you must provide your body a constant supply of new nutrients to use as fuel during the healing process. This supply of nutrients includes calories, protein, vitamins and minerals.
Involuntary weight loss and malnutrition can be caused by cachexia, a wasting syndrome which causes weakness and loss of weight, fat, and muscle. You may be eating enough, but your body is not absorbing the nutrients in your food, which can cause cachexia. Another common cause of malnutrition in cancer patients is anorexia, the loss of appetite or desire to eat.
Nutritional support during cancer treatment can help you get the nutrients you need to maintain body weight and strength, prevent body tissue from breaking down, rebuild tissue and fight infection. If you are unable to eat or digest food, nutrition may be provided parenterally (through a vein) or enterally (through a feeding). Resistance exercises and medication, like Oxandrin can also be used to increase weight through lean body mass.
It’s important to discuss your nutritional needs and your risk of malnutrition early on with your health care provider. Insist on meeting with a registered dietitian to assess your calorie and protein needs.
