Malnutrition and cancer, diagnosis and treatment

Summary Background The prevalence of malnutrition in cancer patients ranges from about 20% to more than 70%. However, 10–20% patients’ deaths are related malnutrition, not the malignancy itself. To reverse pattern weight loss, improve quality life, reduce treatment toxicity, psychological stress and risk mortality, diagnosis should be made as early possible facilitate best treatment. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted following guidelines ESPEN (European Society for Clinical Nutrition), DGEM (German Nutritional Medicine) ASPEN (American Parenteral Enteral Nutrition). Results conclusion assess all screened regularly with a valid screening tool (e.g., MUST [Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool], NRS [Nutritional Risk Screening] or PG-SGA [Scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment]). If is present, adequate nutritional therapy recommended stop involuntary loss. Patients engage exercise maintain muscle mass, strength function. They offered regular dietetic counselling, their depletion monitored by determining fat-free mass. As cachectic particular at risk, presence cachexia also recognized an stage. Three consensus-based definitions widely accepted: Fearon et al. EPCRC Palliative Care Research Collaborative) propose specifically cachexia, while Evans put forward definition associated types underlying chronic diseases. if there diagnosis, additional pharmacological considered.