By Bambeh Keita, MNI Expert
As we observe World Cancer Day on 4th February, it’s crucial to highlight an often-overlooked aspect of cancer care: the continuity of nutritional support. This year’s theme, “United by Unique,” reminds us that every individual facing cancer has a unique story and experience. Yet, we are all united by our shared commitment to create a world where we look beyond the disease and see the person before the patient, placing the needs of people and communities at the centre of health systems.
Patients face a relentless battle, not only against the disease itself but also against the debilitating effects of malnutrition, which severely impacts their treatment and recovery. Throughout the continuity of care, nutritional support plays a crucial role: from malnutrition screening and monitoring, evaluating weight stability, and compensating for the loss of indispensable nutrients. However, these critical aspects are often overlooked. We owe it to these patients to create healthcare systems where preventable and treatable malnutrition is effectively managed. By doing so, we can significantly improve their quality of life and treatment outcomes.
The Burden of Malnutrition on Clinical Outcomes and Healthcare Systems
Cancer and its treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation, often lead to side effects like nausea and vomiting, which severely impact a patient’s ability to maintain adequate nutrition.[1] This can result in weakened immune systems, delayed recovery, and higher mortality rates.[2] Up to 70% of cancer patients suffer from malnutrition, adversely affecting their clinical outcomes, quality of life, and treatment tolerance.[3] Beyond individual health impacts, malnutrition also places a substantial burden on healthcare systems, as malnourished patients tend to experience more severe treatment side effects, longer hospital stays, and higher readmission rates, all of which significantly increase healthcare costs and strain resources.[4]
The Role of Medical Nutrition in Addressing Cancer-Related Malnutrition
Designed to address the nutritional needs of malnourished patients, medical nutrition can be administered orally, through tube-feeding, or intravenously. Medical nutrition helps patients of all ages address nutritional insufficiencies when they are unable to meet their nutritional requirements via normal foods. Research shows that well-nourished patients handle treatments better, recover faster, and have improved survival rates.[5] As patients’ nutritional needs change before, during, and after treatment, so must the nutritional support provided to them. Continuity of care involves the coordinated and sustained management of patients’ healthcare over time. This is especially crucial for cancer patients, who often need complex, long-term treatment involving multiple healthcare providers, including nutritionists and dieticians. This is why continuity of care is vital in cancer treatment, ensuring that nutritional support is continually adapted to meet the evolving needs of patients.
Advocating for Nutritional Support in Cancer Care
Despite being recognised as a limiting factor in cancer treatments, disease-related malnutrition remains poorly managed in healthcare policies. This is why, as the voice of the medical nutrition industry, MNI advocates for policy changes that recognise the importance of nutritional interventions in cancer treatment and for their integration as an integral part of the care pathway.
The European Parliament’s BECA Committee report in 2022 highlighted the need for nutritional support in cancer care protocols. MNI’s collaboration with healthcare providers, policymakers, and patient representatives has been instrumental in bringing this issue to the forefront of healthcare policy. However, only a limited number of EU Member States integrate nutritional care in their cancer plan and there is still work to be done. We continue to urge governments to invest in policies that acknowledge the critical role of nutritional care in managing disease-related malnutrition, as underlined by the WHO Europe’s recent call.
On World Cancer Day, let us champion the cause of medical nutrition. By committing to a holistic approach that includes continuity of nutritional support, we can improve the quality of life for cancer patients. We must ensure that all patients, regardless of location or socioeconomic status, have access to the nutritional care they need.
With cancer estimated to affect about half of us during our lifetimes, it is imperative to keep cancer care and the fight against malnutrition at the top of the legislative agenda. By doing so, we honour the resilience of those facing cancer and work towards a future where no patient suffers from preventable complications caused by disease-related malnutrition.
[1] Arends J, et al. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2023:185:103965
[2] World Health Organization, 2024 (link)
[3] Ryan AM, et al. Nutrition. 2019;67-68:110539
[4] Medical Nutrition Industry International, 2020
[5] Tappenden KA, Quatrara B, Parkhurst ML, Malone AM, Fanjiang G, Ziegler TR. Critical role of nutrition in improving quality of care: an interdisciplinary call to action to address adult hospital malnutrition. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2013
