Diagnosis Cancer Early nutritional advice is particularly important

Cancer patients should definitely prevent malnutrition
About half of all cancer patients lose unwanted fat and muscle mass in the course of the disease and thus often significantly in weight. However, as the German Cancer Society informs, malnutrition can have very unpleasant consequences and, in an emergency, worsen the prognosis of the disease. Accordingly, it is important that sufferers feed the circumstances accordingly. Special nutrition experts offer support here.

Tumor cachexia can occur at any time
Cancers often lead to malnutrition and a reduction in fat and muscle mass. This can happen at any stage of the disease, often even before the diagnosis. This, according to the news agency "dpa" the German Cancer Society on their onko-Internet portal out. The so-called "tumor cachexia" usually means for patients and relatives a very heavy burden, because those affected would like to eat - but can not. In addition, the recovery and absorption of nutrients in the gastrointestinal tract are often disturbed, inform the experts.

The right nutrition is especially important for cancer to prevent deficiency symptoms. (Image: udra11 / fotolia.com)

Risk of comorbidities increases
As a result, about half of all people diagnosed with cancer accidentally lose body weight during the course of the disease, and in some types of cancer, for example. In the upper gastrointestinal tract or in particularly aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, it is therefore often even more affected. The consequences are usually very unpleasant, because in addition to a limited quality of life increases the risk of comorbidities such. a pneumonia or a urinary tract infection. In addition, as patients lose not only fat but also muscle mass, physical performance also decreases. Research shows that cancer-related heavy weight loss can lead to a worsened prognosis, the company said.

Accordingly, it is important that cancer patients seek professional support and counseling as early as possible. They find those affected by a trained nutrition expert, who has appropriate experience with the disease. With the help of the specialist, the risk of malnutrition could then be examined and individual preventive measures developed, according to the German Cancer Society. (No)