Chapter 24: Cancer and HIV/AIDS Nutrition

Cancer Treatment: 

• Encourage high-calorie (mostly fat and carb intake), high-protein foods (e.g., adding butter or cheese). 

• Maintain healthy weight

• Be physically active

• Eat mostly plant-based diet

HIV/AIDS Nutrition: 

• Work with a dietitian to create an individualized plan. 

• Lipodystrophy: 

  • Fat distributed along with metabolic disturbances 

  • Characterized by changes in body fat distribution and metabolic disturbances- impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia which increase the risk of diabetes and CVD 

    • Ex: buffalo hump

• Weight loss and wasting are not as common since people are living longer

Terminal Cancer: 

• Honor client requests for comfort foods, regardless of nutrient density. 

• Make them as comfortable as possible, preferences are more important than the nutritional quality of the diet

Post-Radiation Therapy: 

• Assess for swallowing difficulties (dysphagia). 

• Tissue irradiation at site of radiation

• Don’t want hard or crunchy foods for radiation in esophagus

Chemotherapy Side Effects: 

• Eat cold foods to help with nausea. 

• Anorexia

• Nausea and vomiting, constipation 

• Taste alterations

• Sore mouth and throat

• Diarrhea

• Early satiety

Colon Cancer Nutrition: 

• Eat a large breakfast when your appetite is the strongest. 

• Have them eat when appetite is better

Cancer Prevention Recommendations 

• Healthy Habits: 

  • Be physically active for at least 150 minutes per week. 

  • Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables.