Caloric Intake & Cancer

Caloric intake is measured by the energy content of total calories consumed. In some cancer patients, caloric intake is drastically reduced if the individual is overweight or the cancer requires calorie restrictions. According to Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, some cancer patients suffer loss of appetite as a result of chemotherapy or radiation, depression or a combination of anxiety and stress. As they begin to lose weight, they also run the risk of developing anorexia, leaving them starved and malnourished. When the patient becomes anorexia, cachexia begins. Cachexia is a state of muscle wasting, where the metabolism of the body is altered and the begins feeding on muscle if fat is unavailable.

Caloric Intake

The average caloric intake for sedentary women and the elderly is roughly 1,600 calories from food, per day. Translated to the critically ill patient, they may require at least 1,000 calories to survive and withstand cancer treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation. The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics defines calorie intake as the calories measured by the energy they produce. This energy is supplied by carbohydrates, fats and proteins. The body requires all of these in order to regenerate tissue, heal from wounds, build immunity, strength, stamina, growth, movement and brain function.

Calorie Restriction Diets

Calorie restriction diets, or the ketogenic diet for cancer, is necessary for certain aggressive cancer types. Brain cancer is one such example where a calorie restricted diet is key to longer survival. Restricting calories by providing one considerable meal per day that is very low in fat but high in whole foods is key. According to the Boston College Seyfried Laboratory, some cancers will progress with the presence of glucose and result in growth, spread and cause further DNA damage.

High Protein Diets

High protein diets are generally prescribed for cancer patients with side effects to chemotherapy and radiation treatments resulting in the loss of lean muscle mass, or cachexia. The University of Rochester Medical Center posits that high protein diets can rebuild muscles, help the tissues recover and put on muscle weight needed for stamina and strength required for further cancer treatments.

High Calorie Diets

High calorie diets are often paired with high protein for the treatment of significant weight loss. The patient may have already slipped into an anorexic state with a loss of appetite and malnutrition. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, this diet promotes adding considerable amounts of fat from dairy, eggs or nut butters along with gravies and sauces to most any consumed food. In the event that a patient is unable to take food by mouth, a liquid nutritional supplement is given via tube feedings.

Malnutrition

Malnutrition is a state of starvation and malnourishment from a lack of nutrients in the body. The body begins to use any fat and muscle stores to produce energy, often leaving the patient feeling weak, tired and fatigued. According to the National Cancer Institute, malnutrition poses a significant threat to survival and compromises immunity, the ability to rebuild tissue and fight infections. It is relatively normal for most cancer patients to reach this point in the last stage of cancer. At this point, the oncology team and the patient will discuss tube feedings if he cannot take food in by mouth.