Nutrition in Gynecologic Cancer

Abstract Nutrition plays a role in every aspect of gynecologic cancer care from diagnosis to death. Unfortunately, the topic is not well researched in gynecology oncology and much that is known about nutrition comes from other disciplines. Nutrition and resultant body mass index (BMI) affects a patient’s risk of diagnosis of a gynecologic malignancy, treatment tolerance, complications, and survival. Sadly, 20 % of patients with cancer die of malnutrition rather than their disease. However, not all malnourished patients are thin, as patients with BMIs in the obese range often do not have adequate nutrition. Recent literature challenges previous thoughts about feeding before and after surgery and clearly links obesity and diet quality with survival. More research is needed on the nutrition of patients with gynecologic malignancy, specifically how diet quality interfaces with the tolerance of radiation and chemotherapy.
Source: Current Obstetrics and Gynecology Reports - Category: OBGYN Source Type: research