Cancer cachexia and weight loss require protein and fish oil supplementation

Cancer treatment has side effects, especially weight loss, which may lead to interruption of treatment and affect survival rate! Especially among patients with gastric cancer, lung cancer and pancreatic cancer, the proportion of weight loss is the highest. According to clinical data, about 50% of cancer patients lose up to 5 kilograms during treatment. Doctors remind that whether during or after cancer treatment, it is important to pay attention to nutritional intake and maintain weight to help complete cancer treatment.

According to clinical medical reports, one out of every five cancer patients dies due to "cancer cachexia", which causes excessive weight loss.

A nutritional survey of 202 cancer patients across Taiwan found that nearly 60% of cancer patients had weight loss problems, and nearly 80% of patients had difficulty eating due to loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. According to clinical medical reports, one out of every five cancer patients dies due to "cancer cachexia", which causes excessive weight loss.

Studies show that patients with pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer and lung cancer have the highest rate of weight loss

Professor Gao Shangzhi, president of the Taiwan Society of Clinical Oncology and director of the Health Management Department of Shin Kong Hospital, said that various cancers can cause varying degrees of weight loss. According to research, patients with pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer and lung cancer have the highest rate of weight loss, about 83~87%, among which 87% of gastric cancer patients have the most severe weight loss. Cancer patients who experience weight and muscle mass loss live nearly 20 months less than those who maintain their weight and muscle mass.

Tumors can cause "cancer cachexia", resulting in weight loss, loss of muscle mass, inflammatory response, and loss of adipose tissue, leading to poor clinical treatment outcomes and affecting overall quality of life and physical activity. Studies have shown that even weight loss in patients can delay or even interrupt cancer treatment. During treatment, cancer patients’ appetite and side effects of cancer treatment affect their dietary intake. It is recommended that “cancer nutritional supplements” be used to provide patients with a suitable source of nutritional supplements.

Professor Gao Shangzhi, president of the Taiwan Society of Clinical Oncology and director of the Health Management Department of Shin Kong Hospital, said that cancer patients' appetite and side effects of cancer treatment affect their dietary intake during treatment, and recommended that "cancer nutritional supplements" be used to provide patients with a suitable source of nutritional supplements.

During cancer treatment, patients need to prevent or improve muscle mass loss

Nutritionist Su Xiuyue, director of the nutrition department at Taipei Medical University Hospital, said that cancer patients often experience side effects during radiotherapy and chemotherapy, such as loss of appetite, vomiting and other discomforts, so the white blood cell count and weight in the body may also decrease. In order to be able to bear the next treatment, it is necessary to pay attention to nutritional supplements. In addition to replenishing calories and preventing rapid weight loss, it is also necessary to prevent or improve the patient's muscle mass loss. The following are the three major elements of nutritional supplements during cancer treatment:

Three major elements of nutritional supplementation during cancer treatment:

1. Meet calorie intake goals: At least an additional 450 calories per day are needed to meet them. If food intake is limited, calorie-concentrated nutritional supplements can be used.

2. Take in enough protein: During the treatment period, an additional 25 grams of protein should be consumed, that is, more than 20% of the calories should come from protein, which is equivalent to eating an extra portion of meat and a whole egg.

3. Take adequate fish oil, 2 grams per day: EPA can help reduce the inflammatory condition of cachexia in cancer patients, help maintain weight and increase muscle mass.

Doctors remind cancer patients to develop the habit of measuring their body weight every day and record it. If their body weight drops by 5% within a month, they should be alert to malnutrition and receive nutritional intervention treatment immediately.

Nutritionist Su Xiuyue recommends that cancer patients develop a habit of measuring and recording their weight every day. If their weight drops by 5% within a month (for example, a 60-kg cancer patient loses more than 3 kg), they should be alert to malnutrition and should immediately receive nutritional intervention treatment or take cancer supplements to help improve their nutritional status. Helping cancer patients maintain their weight and physical strength to complete treatment is the biggest goal of cancer nutritional support.

【Celebrities share their experience in fighting cancer】

Veteran artist Fu Juan's younger brother and younger sister have both been diagnosed with cancer. She said that she was diagnosed with cancer when she was nearly 40 years old and at the peak of her career. She underwent surgery and spent about five years recuperating. She is now fully recovered. Now 53 years old, she has successfully fought cancer for more than ten years. When she started treatment, she experienced a sharp drop in weight and was worried about insufficient nutrition. Fortunately, she relied on cancer nutritional supplements to survive the treatment. She still attaches great importance to nutritional supplements.