Evaluation of cancer patients with nutrition treatment and without nutrition treatment in accordance with nutrition and quality of life

In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the cancer patients who are receiving and not receiving medical nutrition treatment in İstanbul University Oncology Institute according to their nutrition and quality of life. The study population consisted of 100 cancer patients aged over 18, 50 patients with or without medical nutrition therapy without hearing and comprehension problems. Demographic and anthropometric data, nutritional status and quality of life of the patients were examined. Nutritional status was assessed using 2-day food consumption record and Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS-2002), and the quality of life was assessed by using the Quality of Life Core Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30). According to the this study, 60% of the patients were male, 69%were married and 45% were primary school graduates. When the nutritional status of the patients receiving medical nutrition therapy is examined according to the patients not receiving medical nutrition treatment, daily energy, carbohydrate, protein intake, quality of life scores, symptom score, functional score, physical function, role function scores, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, pain, loss of appetite and constipation symptom scores and malnutrition risks were significantly higher than NRS-2002 (p <0.05). As a result; Although the patients who received medical nutrition therapy in cancer patients receiving and not receiving medical nutrition therapy had high energy and protein intake with enteral nutritional support, malnutrition risk persisted and this condition negatively affected the quality of life. Nutritional status of cancer patients should be evaluated following a diagnosis of the disease; nutritionists who are specialized in oncology and should be informed about the positive effects of nutritional status on quality of life.