Nutritional Therapy for Patients with Esophageal Cancer

ABSTRACT

Malnutrition develops in 79% patients with esophageal cancer. Thus, these patients represent a group of cancer patients, which is the most nutritionally compromised. Dysphagia and more than 10% loss of body weight are already present at the time of diagnosis. Treatments for esophageal cancer contribute significantly to the development of malnutrition. This paper describes the nutritional treatment of patients and nutritional strategies in patients with dysphagia and other nutritional problems that accompany the treatment of patients with esophageal cancer. Here are shown the types and methods of nutritional support, which are suitable for this group of patients. Nutritional support of patients with esophageal cancer is performed as a parallel therapeutic route.

Acknowledgments

Our research was part of the hospital strategy to improve nutritional care in patients with esophageal cancer that took place in the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia. We thank the project leaders doc. Irena Oblak, MD, PhD and prof. Vaneja Velenik, MD, PhD for their support. No special funds were needed for this study.