[Nutrition counseling in tumor cachexia so patients will eat better]

With the aim of preventing, or at least limiting, malnutrition in patients suffering from cancer, they should receive appropriate nutritional advice before, during and after treatment. Such problems as loss of appetite, nausea, gustatory disturbances, dry mouth, etc., may be ameliorated by specific counseling. Enteral liquid diets and commercially available baby food products offer a good alternative to normal diet, or may be used to supplement it. Such supplements as vitamin and/or mineral tablets, and vegetable and fruit concentrates should only be used selectively and for well-founded indications. The metabolic situation in cachectic patients is not particularly amenable to oral nutritional measures. A fat-rich diet is recommended. The administration of pharmacological doses of omega-3 fatty acids may offer some benefit.