Nutritional, dietary profile and quality of life of cancer patients in chemotherapist treatment

Abstract

Introduction: cancer treatments may cause harmful nutritional, physical, emotional and social. Chemotherapy uses chemicals to remove tumor cells from the body. Objective: To assess the nutritional status, diet and evaluate the quality of life of patients undergoing chemotherapy. Materials and methods: Crosssectional study with 20 patients and descriptive. The anthropometric measurements, food frequency questionnaire and quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30). Results: We found a prevalence of overweight by BMI, but other parameters identified nutritional risk. There was also a significant weight loss in 75% of patients and weight gain in women with breast cancer. Food consumption showed low intake of protective foods such pathology. The most affected the quality of life were gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue and difficulty in performing activities. Conclusion: Patients demonstrated nutritional risk and dietary intake is not satisfactory. It was felt that the cancer has great impact on quality of life of patients.