Cancer and cancer treatments can cause a loss of appetite and changes in the body's ability to digest food. At a time when your body needs more nutrients to help fight off the disease, it may be getting less. For this reason, healthy nutrition plays a vital role in the treatment of cancer. Individuals with kidney cancer are no exception. Diet is an important part of any cancer patient's overall treatment plan.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of kidney cancer is unidentified. Family history, age, gender, high blood pressure and obesity are known risk factors associated with the disease. Smokers are also at increased risk of the disease with the risk decreasing after you quit smoking. Eating more servings of fruit and vegetables each day may help to lower the risk of renal cell carcinoma -- the most common type of kidney cancer in adults, according to MayoClinic.com. Men are more likely than women to develop kidney cancer; however, studies have linked obesity in women to renal cell carcinoma, reports the National Cancer Institute. Obesity increases the risk of kidney cancer for either sex. The risk of this and other cancers increases with age.
Benefits of Healthy Eating
While there isn't yet enough scientific evidence to prove that specific dietary changes will prevent kidney cancer, healthy eating does produce beneficial effects. The same as with other major cancers, obesity is associated with kidney cancer, therefore, maintaining a healthy weight can lower the risk. Adding more vegetables and fruit to your diet gives your body more of the nutrients it needs. Replacing foods higher in calories with vegetables and fruit can reduce the number of total calories you consume each day, helping you to lose weight. Good nutrition aids in maintaining strength and energy, especially when undergoing radiation and/or chemotherapy. Eating nutritious meals also helps fight off infection. Be sure to consume the number of calories your body requires to meet your nutritional needs. The number of calories you need depends on your age, sex, and body composition and size.
Antioxidant Nutrients
Certain antioxidant nutrients may help prevent against cancer. Vitamin C plays a key role in immunity. Deficiencies result in decreased immunity and may contribute to the development of cancer. Taking higher than the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C could be beneficial in preventing cancer. Vitamin E is another antioxidant nutrient that strengthens immune system function. Like vitamin C, vitamin E deficiency may be associated with an increased risk of cancer. Selenium is an antioxidant mineral that aids in healthy immune function. Deficiency has been associated with several diseases including heart disease, asthma, arthritis and cancer. Consult with your physician before taking any vitamin or other nutritional supplements in addition to the nutrients you get from dietary sources.
Nutrition Assessment
A nutrition program includes an assessment of your risk for malnutrition -- a symptom often suffered by cancer patients. Cancer depletes the body of nutrients causing weight loss. Along with asking questions about your appetite and food preferences, your health care team may order blood tests to determine the condition of your body's immune response. After taking measurements to determine your percent of body fat, you may undergo additional tests to measure your calorie requirements and amount of protein loss. Based on laboratory findings, your doctor may recommend certain vitamin and mineral supplements in addition to eating a healthy diet.
