How to improve the nutritional status of patients with mid- and end-stage malignant neoplasms
Oncology at White Cloud Hospital, 2nd Central Hospital, Guangdong Province.
I. Increased nutritional support for oncological patientsMalignant neoplasms are complex diseases closely related to substance metabolism and lifestyle. In the case of patients with mid- and late-stage malignant neoplasms, malnutrition is a common problem due to the progress of the disease and the effects of the treatment process, with a significant impact on the quality of life, the effectiveness of the treatment and its prognosis. Nutritional support should therefore be an important component of the treatment of tumours in the middle and later stages.In China, the Chinese medical concept is gradually being recognized and adopted in the nutritional management of oncological patients. While Chinese medicine is concerned with the “moderation of the sun”, “rehabilitating evil”, modern medicine emphasizes the scientific and personalization of nutritional treatment. The two complement each other and can help people with tumours in mid-term and later stages to improve their nutritional status, slow progress and improve their quality of life.II. China ‘ s Chinese Medical Nutrition ConceptIn China, a growing number of medical institutions have integrated the Chinese medicine concept into their nutritional support for oncological patients, emphasizing the improvement of overall health through dietary adjustment. Together with modern science, these concepts form a unique set of nutritional support methods.(i) Nutritional philosophy in Chinese medicineIn China, Chinese medicine nutrition focuses on the ablution of the stomach in order to enhance the digestive absorption function of patients. Its features include:1. China’s physicians, who focus on balanced diets, emphasize the importance of “five valleys for food”, and advocate that oncological patients focus on diversity in their daily diets, combining cereals, vegetables, fruits, meat and dairy products, in order to meet the various nutrients required by the organism.In combination with therapeutic feeding, Chinese medicine often uses herbicides such as ginger, purple and succulent, and personalizes the patient ‘ s specific condition and body. If ginger yolk has been shown to be anti-inflammatory and oncological, it can be part of the diet. With fewer meals and a focus on the quality rather than a quantitative response to the reduced gastrointestinal function of patients with tumours, Chinese nutrition experts have recommended that more meals be provided in order to reduce the burden of digestive systems. At the same time, the choice of high-energy-density, digestible foods such as oats, nuts, yoghurt etc. is advocated. (ii) China ‘ s Chinese medicine nutrition philosophyChina places emphasis on “and” as the focus of nutritional support for oncological patients, focusing on detail and individualization, combining modern nutrition science and traditional Chinese medicine.The diet is light and the emphasis on seasonal foods in Chinese medicine’s nutrition emphasizes “four-hour compliance”, and the choice of fresh foods is based on the season, so as to keep the diet low so as to reduce the stomach burden on patients. In the winter, warm foods, such as carrots and mushrooms, and in the summer, fresh, detoxified foods, such as bitter melons and green beans, are used. The application of fermented foods in China, based on Chinese medicine, has developed unique fermented foods, such as those containing a wealth of fungi and enzymes, which have helped to improve the intestinal health of patients on tumours and enhance their immunity. The combination of pharmacological diets with daily diets focuses on the adjustment of the diets, such as the integration of chrysanthemum, poaching and mountain medicine with the daily diet, improving the aerobic deformities of patients and helping to combat the fatigue and weakness caused by tumours.III. Specific measures to integrate the Chinese medical philosophyThe following eight aspects explore ways of helping people with mid- and late-stage malignant tumours to improve their nutritional status and integrate into China ‘ s Chinese medical philosophy.Maintaining healthy weightWeight is an important health indicator for patients on tumours, and underweight or overweight affects both treatment and prognosis.Approach 1: Overweight reduction is avoided through nutritionally balanced diets that focus on high-quality protein intake (e.g. fish, beans). Method 2: Use of foods rich in dietary fibres, such as potatoes and oats, to help regulate weight while maintaining muscle quality in combination with mobility. 2. Moderate dietIdeas 1: Promote the control of caloric intake while maintaining a nutritional balance. It is recommended that healthy fats such as olive oil and nuts be used instead of animal fat. Concept 2: Emphasis on an “eight-point-saturation” diet to avoid diarrhea and over-ingestion of greasy food. 3. Optimal protein sourcesProtein needs are high for oncology patients, but the choice of protein is scientifically sound.Recommendation 1: Reduce red meat and processed meat intake and increase the choice of white meat such as fish and chicken, with an appropriate increase in the proportion of dairy products. Recommendation 2: Integrate foods rich in plant proteins, such as tofu and tofu, into the diet to complement quality proteins. 4. Reasonable fat intakeFat ingestion needs to be adapted to the patient ‘ s condition to avoid overdose.Perceptions: Multiple ingestion of foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, seed oil, helps to reduce inflammation. Practice: Recommendations for deep-sea fish and sesame can supplement unsaturated fatty acids while improving the appetite of patients. 5. Increased intake of fruit and vegetablesIdeas 1: Emphasis on rainbow diets and recommended five different colours of vegetables and fruits per day, such as green leaves, tomatoes, blueberries, etc. Ideas 2: Cross-flower vegetables (e.g. cabbage, mustard blue) and mushrooms are recommended as good tumour-resistant. 6. Preferred grain typeMethod 1: To reduce the intake of refined grains by recommending coarse grains such as wheat bread and rough rice. Approach 2: Combining impurity foods such as red beans, thallium and rice to promote multi-nutrient ingestion. 7. Food safetyThe low immunity of oncological patients requires special attention to food safety.Recommendation 1: Strict adherence to food safety standards, in particular to avoid the consumption of raw and non-temperature dairy products. Recommendation 2: Reduce the use of high-temperature fried foods, more often using healthy cooking methods such as steam, cooking, and sauerkraut. 8. Access to specialized nutritional treatmentProfessional nutritional support is sought when the daily diet does not meet the needs of patients.Strategy 1: Supplementary programmes for high-heat and high-protein are provided through oral or intestine nutritional support. Strategy 2: Use traditional medicine to supplement nutrition, such as porridge and date soup.
SummaryNutritional support is essential in the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with mid- and late-stage malignant tumours. China ‘ s medical philosophy, combined with modern nutrition science, can improve the nutritional status of patients as a whole, improve the effectiveness of treatment and prolong their survival.Through individual, scientific and nutritional management, more oncological patients will be able to achieve a better quality of life in the fight against the disease, which is the direction of a joint global effort by the medical community and Chinese medicine. Other tumors
