Nutritional Management of Oncological Symptoms: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Throughout their experience of illness and during the course of treatment, a substantial proportion of cancer patients are prone to develop nutritional and/or metabolic disturbances. Additionally, cancer patients often encounter long-term side effects from therapies, which may lead to impaired digestion, nutrient absorption or bowel motility. Therefore, the preservation and maintenance of an optimal and balanced nutritional status are pivotal to achieving a better prognosis, increasing the tolerance and adherence to cancer therapies and improving the overall quality of life. In this context, personalized nutritional programs are essential for addressing conditions predisposing to weight loss, feeding difficulties, digestion problems and intestinal irregularity, with the goal of promoting adequate nutrient absorption and minimizing the detrimental effects of treatment regimens. The focus of this research is to examine the most common clinical conditions and metabolic changes that cancer patients may experience, including stomatitis, xerostomia, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, dysphagia, sub-occlusion, dysgeusia, dysosmia, anorexia, and cachexia. Furthermore, we present a pragmatic example of a multidisciplinary workflow that incorporates customized recipes tailored to individual clinical scenarios, all while maintaining the hedonic value of the meals.

Oxidative Stress in the Pathogenesis of Oral Cancer

“…Collaboration with oncologists and nutritionists is essential for tailoring treatment plans to individual patient needs [ 70 ]. Personalized nutritional programs can help address the nutritional and metabolic disturbances that cancer patients may experience [ 72 ].…”

Interventional Prospective Studies on Xerostomia in Patients Undergoing Palliative and End-of-Life Care: A Scoping Review

“…While xerostomia, mucositis, and dysphagia are all common oral problems of patients undergoing palliative care, xerostomia is the most frequently observed, with prevalence rates ranging from 30% to 88% [5][6][7][8]. The most common causes of xerostomia in this patient population are drug therapy, dehydration, and cancer-related cachexia in those with terminal-stage cancer [9][10][11][12]. Although medication remains a vital component of palliative care, current guidelines indicate that increasing hydration therapy does not improve xerostomia [13][14][15].…”