CANCER

s.no contents page.no

1. Cancer

2. How cancer begins?

3. Classification of cancer

4. Causes of cancer

5. Clinical signs of cancer

6. Treatment of cancer

7. Nutrition in cancer care

8. Nutrition assessment in cancer care

9. Treatment of symptoms by nutrition

10. Types of nutrition support

11. Nutrition needs at the end of life

12. Nutrition trends in cancer

13. Food sources for cancer

14. Bibliography

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CANCER :
 An abnormal growth of cells which tends to proliferate in an
uncontrolled way and, in some cases, to metastasize (spread).

HOW CANCER BEGINS ? :

 Cells are the basic units that make up the human body.
 Cells grow and divide to make new cells as the body needs them.
 Usually, cells die when they get too old or damaged. Then, new
cells take their place.
 Cancer begins when genetic changes interfere with this orderly
process.
 Cells start to grow uncontrollably.
 These cells may form a mass called a TUMOR. A tumor can be
CANCEROUS OR BENIGN.A cancerous tumor is MALIGNANT (It can
grow and spread to the other parts of the body).
 BENIGN tumor means the tumor can grow but will not spread.

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Classification of cancer :
TYPES TISSUE OR THE ORIGIN EXAMPLES OF CANCER
OF CELL
CARCINOMA Endoderm or Ectoderm Prostate,breast,lung,colorectal
cancer.
SARCOMA Mesoderm Osteosarcoma,fibrosarcoma.
LEUKAEMIA White blood cells Acutelymphoblastic leukaemia
LYMPHOMA Monocyte, macrophage Hodgkin’s disease

CAUSES OF CANCER :
 Causes of cancer -------->1.Environmental factor
2.Genetic factor

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 1.ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
S.NO CAUSES EXAMPLES OF CANCER
A. Tobacco,smoking Lung,larynx,kidney,mouth,pharynx,bladder,
Oesophagus,pancreas cancers.
B. Alcohol Oesophageal cancer and liver cancer.
C. Dietary factors Like eating smoked fish,red meat,and Teflon
coated cookwares causes cancer.
D. Occupational Cadmium,Arsenic,Chromium,Vinyl
exposures chloride,Benzene,Polycyclichydrocarbon
can causes 1-55% of cancer.

E. viruses Human papilloma virus [HPV] causes cervix

cancer
F. Parasities Schistosomiasis producing carcinoma of the
bladder.
G. Customs,habits Like betel chewing causes oral cancer and
and life styles lung cancer.
H. Others Sunlight,radiation,air and water
pollution,and medications like
oestrogen causes cancer.

2.GENETIC FACTORS
 There is a complex inter-relationship between HEREDITARY
SUSCEPTIBILITY.

SYMPTOMS OF CANCER :
 SKIN CHANGES: A new moles or a change in an existing
mole, a sore that does not heal.
 BREAST CANCER: A change in size or shape of the breast or
nipple, change in texture of breast skin, a thickening or
lump on or under the skin.
 Hoarseness or cough that does not go away.
 Changes in bowel habits.
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  Difficult or painful urination.
 Problems with eating such as,
I. Discomfort after eating
II. A hard time swallowing
III. Changes in appetite
 Weight gain or loss with no known reason.
 Abdominal pain.
 Unexplained night sweats.
 Unusual bleeding or discharge,including:
I. Blood in the urine
II. Vaginal bleeding
III. Blood in the stool
 Feeling weak or very tired.
Treatment of cancer :

1.Radiation therapy :
 It uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.

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2.Surgery :
 Surgery is most commonly used to remove the tumor
and some of the nearby healthy tissues.

3.Chemotherapy :
 It uses drug to kill cancer cells.

4.targeted therapy :
 It targets the changes in cancer cells that help them grow, divide
and spread.

5.HORMONE THERAPY :
 It slows or stops the growth of breast and prostate cancers that use
hormones to grow.

6.stem-cell therapy :
 It restores blood-forming stem cells in cancer patients who have
destroyed by very high doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

7.PRECISION MEDICINE :
 Precision medicines helps doctors to select treatments that are most
likely to help patients based on a genetic understanding of their
diseases .

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 Nutrition in cancer care :
OBJECTIVES :
a. Good nutrition is important for cancer.
b. Healthy eating habits are important during and after treatment.
c. A registered dietitian is an important part of the healthcare team.
d. Cancer and cancer treatments may cause side effects that affect
nutrition.
e. Cancer and cancer treatments may cause malnutrition.
f. Anorexia and cachexia are common causes of malnutrition in cancer
patients.
GOOD NUTRITION IS IMPORTANT FOR CANCER PATIENTS :
 Nutrition is a process in which food is taken in and used by the
body for growth, to keep the body healthy, and to replace tissues.
 Good nutrition is important for good health.
 Eating the right kinds of food before and after cancer treatment
can help the patient feel better and stay stronger.
 A healthy diet includes eating and drinking enough of the foods
and liquids that have important nutrients the body needs.
HEALTHY EATING HABITS ARE IMPORTANT DURING AND
AFTER CANCER TREATMENT :
 Nutrition therapy is used to help cancer patients keep a healthy
body weight, maintain strength, keep body tissues healthy, and
decrease side effects both during and after treatment.

A REGISTERED DIETITIAN IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE

HEALTHCARE TEAM :
A registered dietitian (or nutritionist) is a part of the team of
health professionals that help with cancer treatment and
recovery.

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  A dietitian will work with patients, their families, and the rest of
the medical team to manage the patient’s diet during and after
cancer treatment.
CANCER AND CANCER TREATMENTS MAY CAUSE SIDE
AFFECT NUTRITION :
 For many patients, the effects of cancer and cancer treatments
make it hard to eat well.
 When the head,neck,oesophagus,stomach,intestines,pancreas,
or liver are affected by the cancer treatment, it is hard to take in
enough nutrients to stay healthy.

CANCER AND CANCER TREATMENTS MAY CAUSE

MALNUTRITION :
 Cancer and cancer treatments may affect taste, smell,appetite,
and the ability to eat enough food or absorb the nutrients from
food.
 This can cause malnutrition,which is a conditions caused by a lack
of key nutrients.
 Alcohol abuse and obesity may increase the risk of malnutrition.
 Malnutrition can cause the patient to be weak, tired, and unable
to fight infection or finish cancer treatment.
 Malnutrition may be made worse if the cancer grows or spreads.
 Eating the right amount of protein and calories is important for
healing, fighting infection,and having enough energy.

ANOREXIA AND CACHEXIA ARE COMMON CAUSES OF

MALNUTRITION IN CANCER PATIENTS :
 ANOREXIA is the LOSS OF APPETITE OR DESIRE TO EAT.
 Anorexia may occur early in the disease or later, if the cancer
grows or spreads.

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 CACHEXIA is a condition marked by WEAKNESS, WEIGHT LOSS
AND MUSCLE FAT LOSS.
 Cancer patients may have anorexia and cachexia at the same
time.