Malnutrition Common Among Cancer Patients, But Screening Not Routine
ROCKVILLE, MD – March 10, 2010 – Although malnutrition is common among cancer patients at some point in their treatment, malnutrition screening is not applied to all patients routinely throughout treatment.
A special presentation at the Association of Community Cancer Centers' (ACCC's) 36th Annual National Meeting on March 19, 2010, in Baltimore, Md., will explore the issue of oncology nutrition intervention and assess how well cancer centers are screening their cancer patients for malnutrition.
"Twenty to 80 percent of cancer patients develop malnutrition," said presenter Rhone Levin, MEd, RD, LD, CSO. "Malnutrition is a prognostic indicator for weight loss, treatment breaks, side effects, and recurrence of disease."
Ms. Levin will explore how to best create a "culture of nutrition" in cancer programs, where medical nutrition therapy is applied at the right time in patient care, where registered dietitians are most effectively used, and where nutrition assessment and intervention are optimally applied. She is an oncology dietitian at Mountain States Tumor Institute/St. Lukes Regional Medical Center in Boise, Idaho.
"Use of a standardized nutrition screening process applied routinely to oncology patients is essential for a well-rounded oncology nutrition program," said Levin.
Good nutrition can decrease rates of infection, speed healing and shorten hospitalizations, increase tolerance to treatment and response to treatment, and decrease complications.
Since 1974, the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) has served as the leading national multidisciplinary organization that sets the standard for quality care for patients with cancer. ACCC is dedicated to promoting professional learning opportunities and to providing a forum for members to network and enhance their skills in the business, clinical and management aspects of care for the cancer community. Nearly 17,000 cancer care professionals from approximately 900 hospitals and more than 1,200 private practices are affiliated with ACCC. Our unique membership includes all members of the cancer care team: medical and radiation oncologists, surgeons, cancer program administrators and medical directors, pharmacists, oncology nurses, oncology social workers, and cancer program data managers. For more information, visit ACCC's website at www.accc-cancer.org. Follow us on Facebook and on ACCCBuzz, ACCC's online blog, www.acccbuzz.wordpress.com.
