Institute of Health Research｜Do patients with head and neck cancer have to end treatment at any time due to malnutrition? Nutritional supplements can help speed up postoperative recovery am730

The misconception “HPV = cervical cancer = female” causes many men to avoid the risk of having the HPV virus. But in fact, studies have shown that men are more likely to be infected with HPV than women In recent years, foreign statistics have also found that 70% of male head and neck cancer cases are co- related to the HPV virus. Dr. Liang Guangquan, an expert in clinical oncology, said: “HPV infection may cause abnormal cell proliferation and develop into cancer. they can still develop head and neck cancer.”

Head and neck cancer is serious or affects the functioning of the sensory organs

Head and neck cancer refers to malignant tumors in the head and neck, outside the brain and thyroid gland, including the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx and sinuses. Since the head and neck of the human body control the main senses, a tumor can affect the functioning of the patient’s sensory organs, such as speaking, eating, swallowing and hearing. Patients should also be aware that these activities may be affected by side effects after treatment. . Among them, the effects of tongue cancer and throat cancer are more obvious.”

Malnutrition caused by dysphagia can affect treatment progress

Swallowing and eating problems directly affect nutritional intake and are a major obstacle for many patients on the road to fighting cancer. During cancer treatment, patients need a certain level of physical strength to support one stage after another. However, it is difficult for patients to obtain adequate nutrition through a normal diet. In addition, tumor cells and pro-inflammatory cytokines a affects metabolism and fat consumption. so patients with anorexia and other conditions may have opportunities. Dr. Liang stressed that if patients do not have enough nutrition, their tolerance to treatment will be reduced, and doctors will have to change the dose or even delay treatment, which will greatly affect the effect of treatment.

Nutritional supplements help to focus on the absorption of important nutrients

So what nutrients should cancer patients take in? Dr. Liang said: “Omega-3 fatty acids, proteins, etc. are very important for cancer patients. In addition to helping to maintain sufficient physical strength, they also help to ‘ maintaining the patient’s immunity and reducing the inflammatory response during the course of treatment, If the condition allows, patients should try to get nutrition through normal food. Studies have shown that giving nutritional milk before surgery can help by speeding up postoperative recovery and reducing the chance of postoperative complications and infections.

After treatment, if the patient has oral pain that affects his ability to eat, he can eat a liquid diet, such as oral nutrition milk, to absorb adequate nutrients arrange for the patient to move to a nasogastric tube for feeding;

Dr. Liang shared that a 30-year-old female patient was in critical condition with nasopharyngeal cancer When the diagnosis was made, the cancer cells had metastasized to the throat and required high-dose electrotherapy. However, after treatment, she developed a swollen throat and difficulty swallowing, and could only eat liquid food. However, solid food was not always able to provide sufficient and complete nutrition, and as a result of malnutrition, the doctor recommended that she take nutritional milk as a supplement to provide sufficient nutrition. and successfully strengthened her immunity gradually her body recovered and her life was slowly restored.

The above information is provided by Dr. Liang Guangquan