The effects of treatment on nutrition in children with cancer

Year 2020, Volume: 37 Issue: 3, 61 - 65, 30.04.2020

Müberra Tanrıverdi , Melikenur Vural Fatma Çakır

Abstract

Chemotherapy affects the diet and feeding habits of children with cancer. They experience side effects such as vomiting, diarrhea and constipation. Feeding disorders occur during treatment period of chronic illnesses such as during the chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The purpose of this study was to determine their feeding habits of the children with cancer. We applied a questionnaire concerning the feeding habits of 21 patients with cancer who received chemotherapy. The questionnaire included where, how, how often and how much children were fed. Nine (42.9%) female patients and 12 (57.1%) male patients participated in the survey. Six (28.6%) lymphomas, 5 (23.8%) sarcomas, 3 (14.3%) kidney tumors, 3 (14.3%) neuroblastomas, 2 (9.5%) brain tumors, 1 (4.8%) acute leukemia and 1 (4.8%) bone tumor were diagnosed. There was a positive statistically significant relationship between regular vegetable consumption and the measurement of body mass indexes (r=-0.601; p<0.05). Fast food consumption at least once a week was inversely correlated with the measurements of weight and height of the patients (r=0.683; p<0.05). Body mass index was found to decrease during the acute gastroenteritis periods (r=-0.470; p<0.05). There was a positive statistically significant relationship between constipation periods and the skinfold thickness measurements (r=0.714; p<0.05). Healthy feeding is especially important for every child in this patient group. Fast food consumption is one of the factors that negatively affects the health, which adversely affects the patients in the treatment process even more adversely. In the literature, there is no protocol established for the feeding of children with cancer and no guideline has been developed as a result of these studies. Our study is planned to determine this need and it might shed light on the literature with the results.

Keywords

antropometric, body mass index, cancer, chemotherapy, children, nutrition

References

• Bryant, R., 2003. Managing side effects of childhood cancer treatment. J Pediatr Nurs. 18: 113-125.
• Cohen, J.E., Wakefield, C.E., Cohn, R.J., 2016. Nutritional interventions for survivors of childhood cancer. Cochrane Db Syst Rev. 8.
• De Koning, B.A., Van Der Schoor, S.R., Wattimena, D.L., De Laat, P.C., Pieters,R., Van Goudoever, J.B., 2007. Chemotherapy does not influence intestinal amino acid uptake in children. Pediatr Res. 62: 195.
• Duffner, P.K., 2004. Long-term effects of radiation therapy on cognitive and endocrine function in children with leukemia and brain tumors. Neurologist. 10: 293-310.
• Filler, R.M., Jaffe, N., Cassady, J.R., Traggis, D.G., Das, J.B., 1977. Parenteral nutritional support in children with cancer. Cancer. 39: 2665-2669.
• Folta, S.C., Chang, W., Hill, R., Kelly, M.J., Meagher, S., Bowman, W.P., Zhang, F.F., 2017. Parent and health care provider perceptions for development of a web-based weight management program for survivors of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a mixed methods study. J Med Internet Res. 3.
• Hutton, A., Bradwell, M., English, M., Chapple, I., 2010. The oral health needs of children after treatment for a solid tumour or lymphoma. Int J Paediatr Dentist. 20: 15-23.
• Ladas, E.J., Sacks, N., Meacham, L., Henry, D., Enriquez, L., Lowry, G., Hawkes, R., Dadd, G., Rogers, P., 2005. A multidisciplinary review of nutrition considerations in the pediatric oncology population: a perspective from children's oncology group. Nutr Clin Pract. 20: 377-393.
• Moyer-Mileur, L.J., Ransdell, L., Bruggers, C.S., 2009. Fitness of children with standard-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia during maintenance therapy: response to a home-based exercise and nutrition program. J Pediat Hematol Onc. 31: 259-266.
• Robinson, D.L., Loman, D.G., Balakas, K., Flowers, M., 2012. Nutritional screening and early intervention in children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer. J Pediatr Onc Nurs. 29: 346-355.
• Sacks, N., Hwang, W.T., Lange, B.J., Tan, K.S., Sandler, E.S., Rogers, P.C., Womer, R.B., Pietsch, J.B., Rheingold, S.R., 2014. Proactive enteral tube feeding in pediatric patients undergoing chemotherapy. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 61: 281-285.
• Sala, A., Pencharz, P., Barr, RD., 2004. Children, cancer and nutrition: a dynamic triangle in review. Cancer. 100: 677-687.
• Stallings, V.A., 2008. Childhood cancer and vitamins: prevention and treatment. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 50: 442-444.
• Su, Y.W., Chen, K.M., Hassanshahi, M., Tang, Q., Howe, P.R., Xian, C.J., 2017. Childhood cancer chemotherapy–induced bone damage: pathobiology and protective effects of resveratrol and other nutraceuticals. Ann New York Acad Sci. 1403: 109-117.
• Taj, M.M., Pearson, A.D., Mumford, D.B., Price, L., 1993. Effect of nutritional status on the incidence of infection in childhood cancer. J Pediat Hematol Onc. 10: 283-287.
• Van Leeuwen, B.L., Verkerke, G.J., Hartel, R.M., Sluiter, W.J., Kamps, W.A., Jansen, H.W., Hoekstra, H.J., 2003.Chemotherapy decreases epiphyseal strength and increases bone fracture risk. Clin Orthop Relat R. 413: 243-254.
• Zhang, F.F., Kelly, M.J., Must, A., 2017. Early nutrition and physical activity interventions in childhood cancer survivors. Curr Obesity Rep. 6: 168-177.
• Zhang, F.F., Roberts, S.B., Must, A., Wong, W.W., Gilhooly, C.H., Kelly, M.J., 2015. Assessing dietary intake in childhood cancer survivors: food frequency questionnaire versus 24-hour diet recalls. J Pediatr Gastr Nutr. 61: 499.