Nutritional Rehabilitation in Oncology After Surgery in the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

Abstract

Rehabilitation in oncology is the process of assisting a patient diagnosed with a “malignant tumor” in order to maintain optimal physical fitness, psychological and social comfort within the limits possible, limited by the disease itself and its treatment. A key component of this approach is nutritional-metabolic support (NMS), including a regular, modified diet, functional foods, and nutritional supplements with pharmaconutrients. In cancer patients, the risk of nutritional deficiency is especially high, since the tumor itself, surgical intervention, as well as high-dose chemo-and radiation therapy, lead to a violation of nutritional status (NS). Nutritional and metabolic support in the postoperative period involves not only improving treatment outcomes and disease prognosis, but also the impact on improving the rehabilitation potential, the possibility of the full implementation of rehabilitation measures, and the quality of life of patients. In the case of radical or palliative surgery, the perioperative period should help improve the long-term prognosis.