Abstract
The role of nutritional support for cancer patients in palliative care is still a controversial topic, in part because there is no consensus on the definition of a palliative care patient because of ambiguity in the common medical use of the adjective palliative. Nonetheless, guidelines recommend assessing nutritional deficiencies in all such patients because, regardless of whether they are still on anticancer treatments or not, malnutrition leads to low performance status, impaired quality of life (QoL), unplanned hospitalizations, and reduced survival. Because nutritional interventions tailored to individual needs may be beneficial, guidelines recommend that if oral food intake remains inadequate despite counseling and oral nutritional supplements, home enteral nutrition or, if this is not sufficient or feasible, home parenteral nutrition (supplemental or total) should be considered in suitable patients. The purpose of this narrative review is to identify in these cancer patients the area of overlapping between the two therapeutic approaches consisting of nutritional support and palliative care in light of the variables that determine its identification (guidelines, evidence, ethics, and law). However, nutritional support for cancer patients in palliative care may be more likely to contribute to improving their QoL when part of a comprehensive early palliative care approach.
Highlights
The role of nutritional support for cancer patients in palliative care is still a controversial topic
The prescribing process described is tailored to the characteristics and needs of these patients and is not applicable to other malnourished patients, such as those receiving nutritional therapy for curative anticancer treatments or for longer periods of time. Whether or not they are still undergoing anticancer treatments, malnutrition leads to low performance status, impaired quality of life (QoL), unplanned hospital admissions, and reduced survival in palliative care patients
Due to the fact that nutritional interventions adjusted to individual needs may be beneficial, guidelines recommend the assessment of nutritional deficiencies in all of these patients
Summary
The role of nutritional support for cancer patients in palliative care is still a controversial topic. Palliative care was established in the United Kingdom 50 years ago [4] In this country, the General Medical Council defines people approaching the end of life (EoL) as those who are likely to die within the 12 months [5]. The General Medical Council defines people approaching the end of life (EoL) as those who are likely to die within the 12 months [5] This definition includes people with advanced, progressive, and incurable conditions. Care in light of the variables that determine their identification (guidelines, evidence, ethics, and law)
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