Dietary for Prostate Cancer Patients Receiving Radiation Therapy - Essay Example

?Dietary Advice for Pro Cancer Patients Receiving Radiation Therapy Pro cancer is reported to be one of the most common cancers that develop among males; for instance, according to the American Cancer Society, one out of every six men will develop such form of cancer (Djulbegovic, Beyth, and Neuberger 2010). Radiation therapy has been one of the most utilized treatment methods for prostate cancer. The recommended dose for prostate cancer through the use of external beam radiation therapy has been limited to surrounding body organs, such as the bladder and rectum; thus, treatment instructions provided to prostate cancer patients can be comprised of advice with regards to diet and nutrition as well as the emptying and filling of the rectum and bladder (Susil, McNutt, DeWeese, and Song 2010). However, due to inadequate instructions and disagreements to such treatment and dose instructions, conflicting results have been obtained in relation to the appropriate practices for prostate cancer patients and their diet, bladder, and rectal volumes. Comparison between previous studies and application of findings into standard clinical practice have become a challenge that should be effectively addressed to ensure optimal health among prostate cancer patients who have been undergoing radiation therapy (Smitsman et al. 2008). Treatment for prostate cancer requires patients to obtain adequate nutrition through a well-balanced diet, although greater difficulty can be experienced due to the fact that the body is exerting effort in fighting the cancer. Moreover, it is also working ultimately for the repair of healthy cells which radiation therapy may have damaged. At the same time, radiation therapy can bring about adverse side effects which considerably reduce the patient’s strength and debilitate his appetite. As radiation therapy damages the healthy cells in one’s body along with the prostate cancer cells, this can cause irritation to the intestines. The intestines play a fundamental role in the intake of food and fluids into the body; thus, the irritation that can be experienced by the intestines due to radiation therapy will reduce its ability to process food and water, causing abdominal pain as well (Heemsbergen, Hoogeman, and Witte 2007). Intestinal irritation can be experienced during and after the radiation therapy with which its adverse side effects can be experienced for an estimate of 6 to 18 months after the duration of the therapy. As such, being provided with the most effective and suitable dietary advice is of paramount importance. On the whole, an increase in vegetable, fruit, and healthy grain intake has been suggested along with the reduction or complete avoidance of fatty foods, dairy products, high levels of sugar intake, and harmful beverages (Chan, Ghan, and Giovannucci 2005). Aside from dietary changes, certain medications are also provided to prostate cancer patients to alleviate the intestinal irritation symptoms attributed to radiation treatment, including loose bowel movements, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps. An enzyme in the body that is significantly affected by radiation therapy is lactose, which assists the body in digesting milk and other dairy products (Agarwal et al. 2008). Doctors or registered dietitians tend to recommend a diet that is low in lactose intake after the patient has undergone radiation treatment as it makes lactose difficult to be digested for a period of time. Compared to while milk, fermented milk products, such as yogurt and sour cream, can be more easily digested by cancer patients; cheese, puddings, ice cream, and other food products that contain high levels of lactose should be avoided. Because commercial foods can be incorporated with lactose, such as instant coffee, it is important that food labels are carefully checked. Foods that contain high levels of fiber, including whole grain and bran products, should be avoided as well as these can accelerate the digestion process and exacerbate bowel movements. A low-fiber diet can, thus, help in the reduction of the risk of blockages in the small and large intestines, avoidance of excessive gas production, and reduction of diarrhea cases (Ghilezan, Jaffray, and Siewerdsen 2005). Vegetables which can be hard to digest, including corn, cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower, must be avoided, along with spicy foods and products containing caffeine, such as coffee, tea, sodas, and chocolate. An anti-flatulent diet, however, may not be the most effective solution in reducing the production and movement of rectal gas that causes abdominal and intestinal discomforts among prostate cancer patients, according to the findings of Nichol et al. (2010). Therefore, it was recommended that additional studies be conducted to establish valid and consistent conclusions on anti-flatulence diet and its impact on prostate cancer patients. On the other hand, a wide range of foods should be integrated into the diet of prostate cancer patients in order to maintain nutritional intake. Lean pork and beef along with chicken and beef that are roasted or broiled are fundamental sources of nutrients, including protein and iron. Cooked vegetables that are easier to digest, such as carrots, squash, green beans, spinach, have also been recommended along with softened dried fruits and fruit juices. White flour products may be consumed, including corn flakes, rice cereals, oatmeal porridge, crackers, pancakes, and breads. Meals should never be skipped while having a regular gap between frequent small meals can be more tolerable compared to large full meals that can cause further problems (Knight 2005). High water intake must also be carried out with which 8 to 10 glasses of water per day should be consumed. Mild laxatives have also been suggested to minimize rectal content (Stroom, Kroonwijk, and Pasma 2000). However, the use of supplements should be carried out in a cautious manner with which patients should discuss the intake of dietary supplements with their physicians. While these can be used to enhance patient health and have not been directly associated with potential risks, certain supplements slowed down the growth rate of normal prostate cell lines and increased the level of radiosentivity of normal cell lines by slowing down DNA repair (Science Daily 2010). Therefore, due to mixed findings, there is still a great need to look into the relationships among prostate cancer patients, radiation therapy, and dietary supplements. To slowly chew and eat food can help break it down and make it more digestible in the stomach. It remains to be of paramount importance to obtain good nutrition among cancer patients as this can enhance the body’s ability in repairing healthy cells that have been damaged by radiation treatment, thereby reducing adverse side effects (Liu, Glicksman, Coachman, and Kuten 2007). On the whole, diet and nutrition plays a fundamental role for prostate cancer patients who undergo radiation therapy and experience symptoms of intestinal irritation. While a number of foods and dietary supplements have been shown to bring about adverse effects on the intestines of cancer patients, it is still essential to incorporate appropriate dietary patterns and practices. Communication between patients and doctors are of great importance as well to understand the changes that the body may have been experiencing during and after the treatment; this way, the necessary modifications in the patients’ diet and lifestyle can be effectively carried out. References Agarwal, MM, Rana, SV, Mandal, AK, Malhotra, S, Khandelwal, N, Kumar, S, Acharya, NC, and Singh, K 2008, Lactose intolerance in prostate cancer patients: incidence and associated factors, Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, vol. 43, no. 3, pp. 270-276. Chan, JM, Gann, P, and Giovannucci, E 2005, Role of Diet in Prostate Cancer Development and Progression, Journal of Clinical Oncology, vol. 23, no. 32, pp. 8152-8160. Djulbegovic, M, Beyth, RJ, and Neuberger, MM 2010, "Screening for prostate cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials, British Medical Journal, vol. 341, p. 4543. Ghilezan, MJ, Jaffray, DA, and Siewerdsen JH 2005, Prostate gland motion assessed with cine-magnetic resonance imaging (cine-MR), International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, vol. 62, pp. 406–417. Liu, L, Glicksman, AS, Coachman, N, and Kuten, A 2007, Low acute gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicities in whole pelvic irradiation of prostate cancer, International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, vol. 38, no. 1, pp. 65–71. Heemsbergen, WD, Hoogeman, MS, and Witte, MG 2007, Increased risk of biochemical and clinical failure for prostate patients with a large rectum at radiotherapy planning: Results from the Dutch trial of 68 Gy versus 78 Gy, International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, vol. 67, pp. 1418–1424. Knight, K 2005, Patient positioning and treatment instructions used during radiation therapy of the prostate: results of an Australian and New Zealand survey, The Radiographer, vol. 52, no. 1, pp. 8 –13. Nichol, A, Warde, P, Lockwood, G, Kirilova, A, Bayley, A, Bristow, R, Crook, J, Gospodarowicz, M, McLean, M, Milosevic, M, Rosewall, T, Jaffray, D, and Catton, C 2010, A cinematic magnetic resonance imaging study of milk of magnesia laxative and an antiflatulent diet to reduce intrafraction prostate motion, International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, vol. 77, no. 4, pp. 1072-1078. Science Daily 2010, Dietary supplements discouraged for prostate cancer patients, Available at: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100308102206.htm Smitsmans, M, Pos, F, de Bois, J, Heemsbergen, W, Sonke, J, Lebesque, J, Van Herk, M 2008, The influence of a dietary protocol on cone-beam CT-guided radiotherapy for prostate cancer patients, International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, vol. 71, pp. 1279-1286. Stroom JC, Kroonwijk M, Pasma KL 2000, Detection of internal organ movement in prostate cancer patients using portal images, Medical Physics, vol. 27, pp. 452–461. Susil, RC, McNutt, TR, DeWeese, T, and Song, D 2010, Effects of prostate-rectum separation on rectal dose from external beam radiotherapy, International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, vol. 76, no. 4, pp. 1251-1258. Read More