What Are the Strategies to Manage Malnutrition in Cancer Patients?
Managing malnutrition in cancer patients involves a multidisciplinary approach. Key strategies include:
Dietary interventions: Tailored meal plans that focus on nutrient-dense foods can help meet the patient's caloric and nutritional needs. Nutritional supplements may also be recommended. Enteral and parenteral nutrition: In cases where patients cannot eat or absorb nutrients adequately, feeding tubes (enteral nutrition) or intravenous nutrition (parenteral nutrition) may be necessary. Medication: Appetite stimulants, anti-nausea drugs, and other medications can help manage symptoms that interfere with eating. Psychosocial support: Addressing psychological barriers to eating, such as depression and anxiety, through counseling or support groups can improve nutritional intake.
