Role of nutritive support in the rehabilitation of cancer patients

Malnutrition is a topical problem in modern oncology. It can result from the inadequate intake of nutrients, malabsorption syndrome and metabolic disturbances or the increased needs for them, which is particularly typical for cancer patients. According to the data of investigations, almost a third of patients admitted to hospital have varying degrees of malnutrition or who were at risk of its development. Malnutrition affects both the tolerability of treatment and its outcomes. It not only increases the frequency of postoperative complications and those occurring during systemic therapy, by prolonging the hospital stay length of a patient in an intensive care units, and his treatment as a whole, but accordingly reduces the cost of treatment, as well as overall and relapse-free survival and life quality. This determines the particular significance of nutritive support in the rehabilitation of cancer patients.