It might not be the first type of cancer that comes to your mind but head and neck cancer is a true priority for many dietitians working in Oncology.
Head and neck patients are at a high risk of malnutrition. An estimated 30 -57% are malnourished at the time of diagnosis, with patients reporting a loss of 12% of their body weight before treatment. Nutritional problems at diagnosis are further exacerbated by the debilitating side effects of multi-modality treatment.
Dietetic assessment and intervention during the patient’s journey, from diagnosis through rehabilitation, can help reduce weight loss, improve treatment tolerance and reduce admissions to hospital. Furthermore, nutrition advice from a registered dietitian may improve a patient’s quality of life.
With so much to win, the inclusion of registered dietitians as core members of the head and neck multidisciplinary team is highly recommended.
This webinar will provide an overview of some of the evidence supporting nutritional interventions in head and neck cancer.