Chen Yi

On the road to fighting tumors, the importance of nutrition cannot be ignored. It is not only the basis for maintaining human life activities, but also an indispensable support for cancer patients in the recovery process. Experts from the Department of Oncology of Chongqing Songshan Hospital will take you to understand the nutritional needs, dietary principles and nutritional misunderstandings of cancer patients, so as to help you better protect the health of cancer patients.

Nutritional needs of cancer patients

Cancer patients often have insufficient nutrient intake or nutritional imbalance due to the disease itself and the impact of treatment. Therefore, they need to pay special attention to nutrient intake to ensure that the body is getting enough energy and nutrients.

Proteins: Proteins are necessary for cell repair and growth and are especially important for cancer patients. They can choose high-protein foods such as lean meats, fish, dairy products, and legumes as part of their daily diet.

Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates are the body's main source of energy. Cancer patients should choose low-sugar, high-fiber carbohydrate foods, such as whole grains, potatoes, and vegetables.

Fat: Fat is one of the important nutrients required by the human body, but cancer patients need to control their fat intake, especially saturated fats and trans fats. It is advisable to choose foods rich in unsaturated fats, such as olive oil, nuts, and fish.

Vitamins and minerals: Vitamins and minerals are essential for the health of cancer patients. They can get enough vitamins and minerals by consuming a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy products.

Principles of Diet for Oncology Patients

Varied diet: Cancer patients need to have a varied diet, consuming a variety of foods for complete nutrition. It is recommended to consume at least five different colored vegetables and fruits per day.

Control salt and sugar intake: Excessive salt and sugar intake may increase the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in cancer patients. Therefore, they should reduce their salt and sugar intake and choose foods that are low in salt and sugar.

Quit smoking and limit alcohol: Smoking and alcohol consumption are important risk factors for tumorigenesis. Patients with cancer should quit smoking and limit alcohol to reduce the risk of disease recurrence and metastasis.

Common misconceptions about tumor nutrition

Myth 1: Worry about nutrition promoting tumor growth

Many cancer patients are concerned that too much nutrient intake will promote the growth of the tumor, so they choose to reduce their food intake or consume only low-calorie foods.

However, this notion is wrong. In fact, malnutrition can lead to a decrease in the patient's immunity, which is not conducive to the recovery of the body and anti-tumor treatment. Therefore, cancer patients should maintain a balanced diet with adequate nutrient intake.

Myth 2: Blindly avoid eating, drinking and eating

Some cancer patients are afraid that certain foods will "develop" tumors, so they blindly avoid eating food, or even only eat vegetarian food.

This is also incorrect. The development of tumors is related to a variety of factors, and food is not the only factor. Moreover, long-term picky eating can lead to nutritional imbalance and affect the normal functioning of the body. Therefore, cancer patients should maintain a varied diet with appropriate intake of various foods.

Myth 3: Superstitious supplements and ignoring normal diet

Many cancer patients believe that supplements can treat tumors, so they buy and consume a variety of supplements in large quantities.

However, supplements are not a substitute for a normal diet and do not treat tumors. Moreover, some supplements may contain hormones or other unclear ingredients that can adversely affect the body of cancer patients. Therefore, cancer patients should pay attention to the intake of a normal diet and use supplements appropriately under the guidance of a doctor.

Myth 4: Soup is the most nutritious for patients

Many people think that soup is the most nutritious, so let cancer patients drink more soup.

However, the nutrient content in the soup is not high, and most of the nutrients remain in the dregs. Therefore, cancer patients should try to eat the dregs in the soup instead of just drinking the soup. If the digestion is poor, you can puree the slag and eat it again.

Myth 5: Fruits are more nutritious than vegetables

Some people believe that fruits have a higher nutritional value than vegetables, so they let cancer patients eat more fruits.

However, this notion is also incorrect. While fruits are rich in nutrients such as vitamins and minerals, vegetables are richer in the variety and content of nutrients. Dark leafy greens and orange vegetables, in particular, are more nutritious. Therefore, cancer patients should eat more vegetables and eat fruits in moderation.

What is the Nutritional Support for Oncology Treatment?

For cancer patients with malnutrition, nutritional support is one of the important treatment methods. It can provide patients with the nutrients they need through enteral nutrition and parenteral nutrition, improve the nutritional status of patients, improve their tolerance to anti-tumor therapy, control the side effects of anti-tumor therapy, and improve the quality of life of patients.

At present, enteral nutrition is mostly recommended in clinical practice, actively regulating nutrient absorption capacity and improving intestinal microenvironment, and synergistically standardizing anti-tumor diagnosis and treatment programs.

In conclusion, nutrition is an indispensable support for cancer patients in the recovery process. Through reasonable diet and nutritional support, we can provide better nutritional security for cancer patients, improve immune and metabolic balance, and help the body better fight diseases. At the same time, it is also necessary to avoid some common nutritional misconceptions in daily life to ensure that cancer patients can obtain better treatment results. (Contributed by Chongqing Songshan Hospital)

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