As the number of cancer patients in China continues to rise, the nutritional issues faced by oncology patients are receiving increasing attention. More and more patients and their families are recognizing that weight management is not just about changes in numbers but is an important indicator of physical improvement.
Recently, at the launch of the "Yi Xin Wei Ni" China Cancer Patient Nutrition Care Support Program, Professor Tian Yantao, a chief physician from the Department of Pancreatic and Gastric Surgery at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Cancer Hospital, pointed out that for cancer patients, proper nutritional management and maintaining body weight after surgery are crucial. Good nutritional status can help promote wound healing, enhance immunity, and improve physical strength and mental state. After gastric cancer surgery, patients should measure their weight weekly. If there is a continuous decline in weight and protein levels, they should immediately increase nutritional supplementation.
Nutrition is the Foundation of Cancer Care
Research data shows that among hospitalized cancer patients in China, the proportion with severe malnutrition is as high as 58.2%. Alarmingly, 55.03% of severely malnourished cancer patients do not receive any nutritional therapy, and 68.78% of all cancer patients do not obtain any form of nutritional treatment. Severe weight loss caused by malnutrition not only weakens patients' resistance but also significantly impacts their tolerance to treatment and its effectiveness.
Regarding this issue, Professor Tian Yantao explained that the trauma from gastric cancer surgery and the side effects of anesthesia can impact patients' eating behaviors and digestive absorption capabilities, leading to increased nutritional expenditure. Post-operative conditions such as swallowing discomfort, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea and constipation, and fever, if not promptly addressed, can affect nutritional status, cause weight loss, and ultimately impact treatment outcomes and disease recovery and prognosis. Data shows that a post-operative weight loss of 2.5% to 5.9% in cancer patients can shorten their lifespan by approximately six months. Therefore, appropriate nutritional intervention and maintaining body weight are not only fundamental to improving the quality of life for oncology patients but are also crucial for their ability to overcome cancer.
"To maintain body weight, weight loss should not exceed 2.5%," Professor Tian Yantao illustrated. For example, for a patient weighing 60 kilograms, post-operative weight loss should not exceed 1.5 kilograms. Families need to work together with patients to monitor weight, measuring it weekly and paying attention to any changes.
What Should Patients Eat After Surgery?
Following gastric cancer surgery, it's important for patients to resume nutritional supplementation as soon as possible. Typically, patients can start eating within 24 hours post-operation. However, there are specific guidelines regarding what and how to eat.
"Immediately after surgery, when a patient's gastrointestinal function is still very weak, they should start with a full liquid diet, such as rice broth, meat broth, steamed egg, tofu pudding, fruit juice, soy milk, etc.," Professor Tian Yantao explained in detail. "If recovery goes well, around 7 days post-operation, the diet can transition to a semi-liquid and soft food diet, including congee, soft noodle soup, wontons, minced meat, mashed vegetables, etc. By about 10 days post-operation, patients may be able to resume a regular diet, which consists of what we normally eat, like steamed rice, mantou (steamed bun), eggs, and dishes with meat and vegetables."
At different stages of recovery, patients can complement their meals with specialized high-energy, high-protein complete nutritional medical foods to ensure adequate nutrient intake. Professor Tian Yantao reminds patients that their daily diet should be balanced and varied; they should not overeat nor limit themselves to just one or a few types of food. Additionally, he suggests that patients carry small snacks or pastries with them to supplement energy as needed.
