The head and neck symptom checklist©: an instrument to evaluate nutrition impact symptoms effect on energy intake and weight loss

Berg

et al. 2017

Support Care Cancer

PurposeBreast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy often experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite that potentially affect dietary habits. This study assessed the intake of energy, macronutrients and food groups before and during chemotherapy in breast cancer patients compared with women without cancer, and determined the association between symptoms and energy and macronutrient intake.MethodsThis study included 117 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients scheduled for chemotherapy and 88 women without cancer. Habitual intake before chemotherapy was assessed with a food frequency questionnaire. Two 24-h dietary recalls were completed on random days for each participant during the whole chemotherapy treatment for patients and within 6 months after recruitment for women without cancer. Shortly, after the dietary recall, participants filled out questionnaires on symptoms.ResultsBefore chemotherapy, habitual energy and macronutrient intake was similar for breast cancer patients and women without cancer. During chemotherapy, breast cancer patients reported a significantly lower total energy, fat, protein and alcohol intake than women without cancer, as shown by a lower intake of pastry and biscuits, cheese, legumes and meat products. A decline in subjective taste perception, appetite and hunger and experiencing a dry mouth, difficulty chewing, lack of energy and nausea were associated with a lower energy intake.ConclusionsSymptoms induced by chemotherapy are associated with lower dietary intake and manifested by a lower intake of specific food groups. To ensure an optimal dietary intake during chemotherapy, it is important to monitor nutritional status and symptom burden during chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00520-017-3668-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differences in dietary intake during chemotherapy in breast cancer patients compared to women without cancer

Berg

et al. 2017

Support Care Cancer

“…Anderson Symptom Inventory-Head and Neck Module; Vanderbilt Head and Neck Symptom Survey; Head and Neck Symptom Checklist; EORTC-HN35; National Comprehensive Cancer NetworkFunctional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Head and Neck Cancer Symptom Index-22, NFHNSI-22) [16][17][18][19][20] have been reported and developed to measure symptoms related to HNC and/or its treatment, limitations exist in regards to using these PROs to assess symptoms related to head and neck lymphedema. First, the available PROs mainly focused on the general symptoms related to HNC cancer or its treatment but did not address unique symptoms associated with head and neck lymphedema.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Differences of symptoms in head and neck cancer patients with and without lymphedema

Deng

Murphy

Dietrich

et al. 2015

Support Care Cancer

“…The tumor itself can affect nutritional status both by its location and through metabolic alterations [2-5]. In addition, the toxic effects of oncologic treatment such as radiotherapy (RT) alone or in combination with surgery and/or anticancer drugs [6,7] can affect food intake [8-11] and thus increase the risk of weight loss [8,9,11-13]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Weight and body mass index in relation to irradiated volume and to overall survival in patients with oropharyngeal cancer: a retrospective cohort study

et al. 2014

BackgroundWeight loss is a common problem in patients with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck (SCCHN) treated with radiotherapy (RT). The aims of the present study were to determine if treated volume (TV), as a measure of the radiation dose burden, can predict weight loss in patients with oropharyngeal cancer and to analyze weight loss and body mass index (BMI) in the same patient group in relation to 5-year overall survival.MethodsThe ARTSCAN trial is a prospective, randomized, multicenter trial in patients with SCCHN. Nutritional data from the ARTSCAN trial were analyzed retrospectively using univariate and multivariate statistical methods based on information on percentage weight loss from the start of RT up to five months after the termination of RT (study cohort 1, n = 232) and information on patients’ BMI at the start of RT (study cohort 2, n = 203). TV was defined as the volume of the patient receiving at least 95% of the prescribed dose. TV64.6 Gy encompasses macroscopic tumor and TV43.7 Gy elective lymph nodes of the neck.ResultsTV64.6 Gy and TV43.7 Gy were both significantly correlated with higher weight loss up to five months after the termination of RT in study cohort 1 (p < 0.001 for both). BMI at the start of RT was shown to be a prognostic factor for 5-year overall survival in study cohort 2 but weight loss was not. The hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were 3.78 (1.46–9.75) and 2.57 (1.43–4.62) in patients with underweight and normal weight, respectively.ConclusionsTV can predict weight loss during RT in patients with oropharyngeal cancer regardless of clinical stage. A high BMI (>25 kg/m2) at the start of RT is positively associated with survival in patients with oropharyngeal cancer.