Malnutrition: A Leading Cause of Death in Cancer Patients

The benefits of good nutrition during cancer treatment include protection against loss of muscle and bone, fewer side effects from treatment, improved digestion, and prevention of malnutrition. The latter point, in particular, is of utmost importance, since more than 80 percent of cancer patients receiving combined treatments — chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery — experience unintended weight loss and malnutrition. Furthermore, according to the National Cancer Institute, malnutrition is responsible for 1 in 5 cancer-related deaths.

Let us discuss “what is malnutrition?”, how to recognize the symptoms of malnutrition in cancer patients, and how to prevent this life-threatening side effect.

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