Principal Director & Unit Head - Medical Oncology, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi, India
Part 8 of 8 in Diagnosis and Detection of Cancer
The Role of Nutrition in Cancer Prevention and Care
May 19, 2024
Nutrition's role in cancer care spans both prevention for the general population and active support for patients already deep into treatment.
Diet as prevention
The amount and quality of food consumed matters for cancer prevention broadly: a balanced diet appropriate to a person's age, height and weight, an ideal body weight, and regular exercise all support the immune system against cancer and other disease alike.
Supporting a patient through active treatment
Cancer is a catabolic state, meaning the body breaks down tissue faster than it rebuilds it, so nutritional support matters directly during treatment: a good protein diet, calcium and vitamin D supplementation if deficient, vitamin B1 and folate if deficient, regular meals at regular intervals, reduced sugar, and complete avoidance of alcohol and tobacco. Underweight patients may need protein supplements to increase nutritional value. Nutrition is a core part of every cancer management plan, and a nutritionist should ideally be part of every cancer care team, assessing and treating each patient individually.
This article is based on a Jivo Masterclass session conducted by Dr. Mohit Agarwal, Principal Director & Unit Head, Medical Oncology, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi. The article has been summarised with the assistance of an AI tool from the original masterclass recording. Watch the full Masterclass recording
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This guide is based on a live Jivo Masterclass: Dr. Mohit Agarwal taught doctors across Africa on May 19, 2024.
FROM THE LIVE Q&A
Moderator
Why do brain tumours relapse so much compared with other tumours?
Dr. Mohit Agarwal
Brain tumours relapse mainly if they are high-grade or advanced-stage. Complete surgical removal of a brain tumour is nearly impossible, so high-grade or advanced tumours are more likely to recur; patients with low-grade tumours tend to be cured.
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Frequently Asked Questions
A male patient has a cystic mass with solid components draining blood-stained, chocolate-coloured, thick fluid from the left breast, with histology not yet available - what type of breast cancer is this likely to be, and what is the likely prognosis?▼
Any discharge from a male breast is not normal - it can be an infection, a malignancy, or something arising from the chest wall. The key next step is imaging and a histopathological diagnosis; this could turn out to be breast cancer, which would need immediate treatment.
What are the prognostic factors for breast cancer?▼
Two main factors: the patient's own disease stage, and the biology of the disease, meaning which receptors are present on the tumour for targeted or hormonal therapy.
If a patient responds to chemotherapy, is there any further need for radiotherapy?▼
For early breast cancer with lymph node involvement in the armpit, radiotherapy is typically given after chemotherapy to sterilise the local area. Whether radiotherapy is needed depends on the individual patient's stage and disease.
Can chemotherapy and hormonal therapy be combined for the treatment of breast cancer?▼
Usually not given together, since they can oppose each other. Hormonal therapy can be combined with targeted therapy and immunotherapy, but when combined with chemotherapy, it is typically given only after the chemotherapy is completed.
In case of relapse after successful chemotherapy, what other modality of treatment can be adopted?▼
If the relapse is localised to one or two sites after some time has passed, the patient might be given re-surgery or radiation to that area. Some medical management may also be given, depending on the biology of the disease.
Why does nutrition matter during cancer treatment?▼
Cancer puts the body in a catabolic state (breaking down faster than rebuilding), so a good protein diet and correcting any vitamin/mineral deficiencies help patients cope with treatment.
Should every cancer care team include a nutritionist?▼
Yes - nutrition is considered a core part of cancer management, ideally with a nutritionist assessing and treating each patient individually.
In This Series: Diagnosis and Detection of Cancer
- 1.Diagnosis and Detection of Cancer
- 2.Cancer Myths: Family History, Genetic Testing and Who Gets Cancer
- 3.Smoking and Other Major Cancer Risk Factors
- 4.The Seven Warning Signs of Cancer and How Biopsy Works
- 5.Cancer Staging, Tumour Markers and Screening Explained
- 6.Chemotherapy, Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy Explained
- 7.Breast Cancer: Prognostic Factors and Treatment Sequencing
- 8.The Role of Nutrition in Cancer Prevention and Care