Many Seek to Help Malnourished Cancer Patients

2009-05-20 03:12:30 (GMT) (WiredPRNews.com - Health & Fitness, News)

Many are seeking to assist cancer patients with preventing malnourishment while dealing with the disease

Several groups are working to prevent malnutrition in patients with the disease.

Wired PR News – Many are working to change the statistics for the number of patients living with cancer who become severely malnourished or endure unhealthy weight loss. As reported by the Associated Press (AP), hospitals, dieticians, groups such as the American Cancer Society, and others are working for the cause of preventing deaths from severe malnourishment in cancer patients with dietary and education initiatives.

Chef Jack Shoop with the Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Philadelphia is quoted by the AP as stating it is important to “bring a lot more nutrients to each spoonful of food” for cancer patients. Shoop is further quote to state, “The visual heartiness, and the actual heartiness, of these foods has to be understood for them to embrace it.”

As noted by the AP, the American Cancer Society is urging cancer patients to obtain professional dietary assessments when they are first diagnosed with the disease. Nutrition Chef Colleen Doyle is quoted in the report as stating, “Patients who are well-nourished as they’re going through treatment have shorter hospital stays, are better able to tolerate treatment” and have improvements in their quality of life.

The Society provides nutrition information via its hotline at 1-800-ACS-2345.

Photo Credit: United States Department of Agriculture