Nutritional concerns of cancer patients and their families

Abstract

Aim and methods Nutrition, unhealthy lifestyles and cancer appear to be strictly related, but few authors have analysed the interest in dietary information of cancer patients and their families. This survey was conducted in the Veneto area (Italy) to investigate the concern of cancer patients and their family members about diet as a health tool before and after diagnosis of cancer. Results Seven hundred and four questionnaires were collected: 380 from cancer patients and 324 from family members of cancer subjects. Breast cancer (BC) was the most frequent disease for patients (61.8%) as well as families (26.5%). Generally, the importance of having precise diet information after diagnosis is recognised by 40.3% of patients, with significant differences between the various types of cancer: gastric and colon/rectum cancer (GCC) patients were more concerned than BC women about precise information concerning a diet to follow immediately after diagnosis (p = 0.000, ODs = 3.10, CI 1.68-5.71) or during treatments (p = 0.001, ODs = 2.67, CI 1.46-4.89). The nutritional information is supplied to patients in 34% of cases and to relatives in 30.3%, often from non-medical sources. In total healthcare workers (family doctor, oncologist, surgeon, dietician) represented the exclusive source of dietary information for 24.9% of patients and 22.9% of family members. Diet after diagnosis changes in 69.1% of GCC patients and in 39.2% of BC women. Relatives, particularly women, report difficulties preparing patients' meals in 30.7% of cases, changes in the eating habits of the entire family in 29.9% and discontent connected with patients diet in 13.9%. The concern about proper nutrition after diagnosis increases more in GCC subjects (p < 0.025) when compared to BC subjects and in patients with more recent diagnosis (p < 0.041) when compared with patients with diagnosis >5 years ago, while in family members the interest in diet after diagnosis increases more in women than in men (p < 0.030) without other differences regarding the degree of relationship, type of cancer or diagnosis time. Relatives (92.7%) have more interest in nutritional education than patients (74.9%). Cancer patients <65 years were more interested in educational initiatives concerning nutrition (p = 0.000, ODs = 4.46, CI 2.6-7.4) than older patients (>65 years) and female subjects were more concerned than male patients (p = 0.008, ODs = 2.11, CI 1.2-3.6). Conclusions The interest in the dietary knowledge and in educational initiatives concerning nutrition is high in cancer patients and their relatives, although it decreases with the age. The poor attention paid to nutrition of cancer patients by various healthcare workers deserves conMediterr J Nutr

An exploration of needs and preferences for dietary support in colorectal cancer survivors: A mixed-methods study

“…Our finding that CRC survivors with overweight and obesity were more likely to report a need for dietary support is in line with findings from a survey (n = 40) from New Zealand[ 18 ], which found that CRC survivors with overweight and obesity were more likely to be interested in receiving dietary information than CRC survivors with a BMI in the normal range[ 18 ]. Furthermore, our finding that younger CRC survivors were more likely to perceive a need for dietary support is in line with findings from an Italian study[ 37 ] among survivors with mixed cancer types and their family members[ 37 ], that showed that younger cancer survivors more often reported a need for receiving additional dietary information compared with older cancer survivors[ 37 ].…”

“…Nevertheless, previous research among CRC survivors[ 18 ] and their family members[ 24 ], survivors of other types of cancer[ 34 – 36 ], or survivors of mixed types of cancer[ 37 ] did evaluate the proportion of cancer survivors with an interest[ 18 ] or need[ 37 ] to receive additional dietary information[ 18 ] or advice[ 37 ], and with an interest or willingness to participate in a lifestyle intervention[ 24 , 34 – 36 ]. As compared with the proportion of CRC survivors perceiving a need for dietary support in our study (17.5%), these studies reported higher proportions of cancer survivors who were interested in receiving additional dietary information (40%[ 37 ]; 91%[ 24 ]) or advice (49%)[ 37 ], and were interested in or willing to participate in a lifestyle intervention (66%[ 36 ] - 98%[ 18 ]). This observation is in line with expectations, since it is likely that there are in fact fewer CRC survivors in need for support to be able to change their dietary behaviour than there are CRC survivors who are merely interested in receiving additional dietary information or participation in an intervention.…”

“…Few studies have examined characteristics associated with an interest in receiving dietary information, dietary advice, or participation in an intervention in CRC survivors[ 24 , 18 , 37 ]. Our finding that CRC survivors with overweight and obesity were more likely to report a need for dietary support is in line with findings from a survey (n = 40) from New Zealand[ 18 ], which found that CRC survivors with overweight and obesity were more likely to be interested in receiving dietary information than CRC survivors with a BMI in the normal range[ 18 ].…”

Adherence to the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research lifestyle recommendations in colorectal cancer survivors: results of the PROFILES registry

“…Intentions and needs of CRC survivors regarding a healthy lifestyle are important to consider for future lifestyle promotion programs. The concern for a healthy diet increased more in the period shortly after diagnosis in gastric and colon cancer patients than in breast cancer survivors, as studied in a survey of 380 patients . More than half of the gastric and colon cancer patients in that survey indicated a need for dietary advice .…”

Imagem corporal, autoestima e <i>distress </i>em doentes com câncer grastrointestinal com síndrome anorexia-caquexia

“…Apesar disto, acredita-se que a presença destes sintomas, associados a outros sintomas físicos ou emocionais, isoladamente ou como clusters de sintomas, implicam maior distress e prejuízo na qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde. Estudos futuros que identifiquem possíveis clusters associados ao distress são necessários.Também, para surpresa da autora, a intensa perda de peso ponderal e os problemas nutricionais dos pacientes não mostraram relação com a presença de distress no grupo Pré-SAC/SAC, embora estas questões tenham sido relatadas em outras pesquisas38,[65][66]164,288 . Em um estudo283 verificando a opinião de familiares quanto ao distress de pacientes com…”