Carrying the weight: Cancer caregivers and nutrition care

By Katrien Van Laere, SVP Research & Innovation, Chief Medical & Scientific Officer astatine Danone

A crab test is simply a life-changing arena for some nan diligent and their loved ones. In a matter of days group spell from hubby and wife, aliases genitor and child, to diligent and caregiver. In Europe 80% of semipermanent attraction is delivered by informal caregivers, pinch millions of Europeans looking aft nan 4.5 cardinal group who are diagnosed pinch crab successful Europe each year.  

Cancer caregivers and nutrition

New investigation conducted by Ipsos among informal crab caregivers successful Spain, Poland, France and Germany¹ showed that 93% of caregivers interest astir nan weight and musculus nonaccomplishment they announcement successful their loved ones. 

As nan group closest to a diligent pinch cancer, caregivers are often nan first ones to announcement eating problems. In fact, almost each caregivers (98%) study watching astatine slightest 1 eating problem for illustration appetite nonaccomplishment aliases nausea successful their loved ones. Such problems are caused by nan illness itself and its treatment, expanding nan consequence of weight and musculus nonaccomplishment and becoming malnourished. 

Malnutrition successful cancer

Caregivers are correct to interest astir nan weight nonaccomplishment they announcement successful their loved ones. It is simply a visible motion of cancer-related malnutrition which affects up to 80% of patients pinch cancer². Malnutrition negatively impacts their crab treatment and betterment outcomes, resulting successful much complications, a higher consequence of infections, longer infirmary stays, and accrued mortality. 

Beyond its sedate effect connected nan lives of patients and caregivers, nan systemic load of malnutrition successful crab is immense, adding up to an estimated other €120 cardinal successful crab curen costs crossed Europe³. 

Despite its prevalence and associated adverse effects, cancer-related malnutrition remains wide underrecognized. Systematic screening for malnutrition is not ever integrated successful crab attraction and solutions for illustration aesculapian nutrition are not known to patients and caregivers, nor are they an integral portion of crab policies aliases attraction pathways. 

Medical nutrition arsenic an integral portion of crab care

At Danone we are convinced aesculapian nutrition is basal successful addressing cancer-related malnutrition, an rumor that affects nan mostly of patients pinch cancer. Prescribed by a healthcare professional, aesculapian nutrition is clinically proven to lend to attraction of weight and musculus wide compared to nary intervention⁴, less post-op complications⁵, improved tolerance to treatment⁶, shorter magnitude of infirmary stay⁷, and higher diligent value of life⁸. As specified it tin besides thief to relieve immoderate of nan basal concerns tabled by caregivers successful nan caller research. 

Yet astatine present, only 1 retired of 3 patients pinch crab who request aesculapian nutrition really person it⁹. This successful portion is owed to a deficiency of consciousness of nan domiciled of nutrition successful crab care, but besides because weight nonaccomplishment is often seen arsenic inevitable erstwhile going done nan disease.  

Calling for action

All patients and caregivers merit nan champion chance successful their conflict against cancer. Solutions that reside malnutrition tin support them successful this conflict which is why everyone who needs aesculapian nutrition should person entree to it. Holistic approaches successful crab attraction arsenic portion of which patients are systematically screened for malnutrition and provided aesculapian nutrition, are much basal than ever and Danone calls for these to go an integral portion of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, National Cancer Control Plans arsenic good arsenic crab attraction pathways and protocols everywhere. 

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¹ Ipsos European Informal Caregiver Experience study pinch 1000 caregivers from France, Germany, Poland and Spain, information connected file, 2024.

² Arends J, et al. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2023:185:103965

³ Caccialanza R, et al. Supportive Care successful Cancer. 2022;30:9667–9679

⁴ Grupinska J, et al. Nutrients. 2021;13(10):3549; Cereda E, et al. Nutritional Radiother Oncol. 2018;126(1):81-88; Tan S, et al. Clin Nutr. 2021;40(1):47-53.

⁵ Maňásek et al. 2016 Klin Onkol, 29(5):351-357

⁶ Meng Q, et al. Clin Nutr. 2021;40(1):40-46 ; Cereda et al. 2018 Radiother Oncol; 126(1):81-88

⁷ Adiamah et al. 2019 Annals Surgery, 270(2):247-256

⁸ Cereda E, et al. Nutritional Radiother Oncol. 2018;126(1):81-88; Tan S, et al. Clin Nutr. 2021;40(1):47-53.; Baldwin C, et al. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2012;104(5):371-85

⁹ Bavelaar et al, Clin Nutr. 2008 Jun;27(3):431-8; Meijers JM, et al. Nutrition. 2009 May;25(5):512-9; Planas et al. 2015 Support Care Cancer, 24, 429-435

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