Nutrition Intervention for Patient with Cancer
Assignment Overview
After reading the case study below, you will provide the patient with suggestions to increase his intake to prevent weight loss and muscle wasting. Please refer to the Grading section of this document for the distribution of these points. You will also find Writing Guidelines at the end of this document that will assist you in meeting the expectations for writing your care plan.
This assignment is intended to explore basic nutritional principles such as energy requirements, sources, and uses. Additionally, you will formulate nutritional assessments and describe nutritional requirements corresponding to specific disease states. You will also examine how effective nutritional counseling is contingent upon collaboration, organization, and concurrence among the members of the health care team.
Assignment Details:
Perform the following tasks:
Complete the reading assignment and the interactive lesson before attempting this assignment.
Please review the following case study:
Case Study:
Steve Palmer has been undergoing chemotherapy for liver cancer. In the past 3 months, Mr. Palmer has lost 25 pounds from his pre-cancer weight of 190 lbs. He is 6 ft 2 inches tall. He reports decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, and dry mouth. He reports feeling full quickly and extreme fatigue. His oncologist refers him to you for suggestions on increasing his food intake.
Use your textbook to respond to the following questions (provide your responses in the Assignment Worksheet section on page 3)
Submit the Week 8 Assignment via Blackboard by clicking on the “Week 8 Assignment” link.
Include the proper file naming convention: SCI115_wk8_assn_jsmith_mmddyyyy.
Grading:
Gradable items in assignment
Points
Identified the main objectives for nutrition intervention in cancer patients
7.5
Calculated nutrient needs for protein, calories, and fluid
5
Discussed dietary suggestions for decreased appetite and nausea
2.5
Discussed dietary suggestions for xerostomia
2.5
Adhere to Writing Guidelines (see below).
2.5
Total Points
20
Writing Guidelines:
Exemplary
Accomplished
Developing
Beginning
Content
High quality information focuses on the task/topic in engaging ways
Intriguing and/or compelling examples, evidence
All information is accurate and focused on task/topic
Examples and evidence support topic
Information sometimes repeated and/or wanders from prompt/task; may contain inaccuracies
Examples and evidence are incomplete; lacks detail
Information inaccurate, inadequate or omitted
Examples and evidence are unclear or missing
Writing
Conventions
Accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation (0 errors).
Grammatical, spelling & punctuation errors are rare (2 errors per page avg).
Grammatical, spelling & punctuation errors are common (3 errors per page avg).
Grammatical, spelling & punctuation errors significantly detract from meaning of paper (4+ errors per page avg).
Assignment Worksheet:
What are the main objectives in nutrition intervention for cancer patients?
There are two main objectives for nutritional intervention in patients of cancer. The first objective is to prevent catabolism. All efforts are made to meet the elevated needs of cancer in order to prevent vast catabolic impacts in the breakdown of tissues (Nix, 2017). It is easier to keep nutrition from the start than to rebuild the body of a cancer patient due to extensive malnutrition. The second objective is so as to relieve the resultant symptoms. The side effects of cancer and its treatment procedures can be quite far-reaching for the patient. Therefore, it is important for the relevant bodies to come up with tactics to help the patient to eat and meet individual nutritional needs. This objective is aimed at combating the disease’s course and giving the patient comfort.
What are Mr. Palmer’s protein and energy requirements? What are his fluid requirements?
An adult patient that is in a better nutritional condition like Palmer requires 25-30 kcal/kg of energy. He will also need 80-100 g of protein (high-quality) to maintain body requirements (Nix, 2017).
Mr. Palmer will also require a large amount of fluids, as much as 2-3 litres in order to avoid the development of hemorrhagic cystitis.
List 3 dietary suggestions to address decreased appetite and nausea.
One of the dietary suggestions to avert nausea and reduced appetite is that of consuming drier foods that have fluids in between them.
The second suggestion is for the patient to stop eating overly sweet foods and fatty foods.
Also, they can consume more juices, sports drinks, ginger ale, broths instead of taking electrolytes and fluids (Nix, 2017). Experiment with flavoring and spices, if possible.
List 3 dietary suggestions to address dry mouth (xerostomia).
Xerostomia also results from radiation therapy. This condition often causes difficulties in speaking and swallowing and tooth decay. It also causes tooth decay. To avert this condition, one should consume more liquid food items like stews, soups, and beverages (Nix, 2017). Also, eat soft foods if the mouth is sore. Finally, always avoid cold and hot temperature extremes in the mouth.
Reference
Nix,S. (2017). Williams Basic Nutrition and Diet Therapy.