Cancer is now often a chronic disease with 14.1 million new cases worldwide in 2012 (Torre et al., 2015). Cancer-related malnutrition is common and associated with greater treatment toxicity, lower quality of life and shorter survival. Yet, it is under-assessed and under-recognised (Aktas et al., 2017). Up to 85% of those with certain cancers, for example pancreas, lose weight during treatment (Argiles, 2005), and an estimated 20% die from malnutrition, not the malignancy (Capra, Ferguson, & Ried, 2001). Despite this, cancer patients are not routinely referred to dietetic services, and often only after significant weight loss (Platek, Johnson, Woolf, Makarem, & Ompad, 2015). Early nutrition interventions can improve outcomes (Paccagnella et al., 2010). Regular malnutrition screening of all cancer patients with timely referral to dietetic services appears wise (Arends et al., 2017). The specific nutrition needs in cancer vary by cancer type and phase, antitumour treatments and co-morbid illnesses. For example, metabolic syndrome, obesity and weight gain during treatment have been associated with disease progression and recurrence in breast
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