2. What is Colon Cancer?
Medical Nutrition Therapy for Colon Cancer
Contents
Patient Overview
Nutrition Care Process
3. • 57 year old male
• Past medical hx:
• 18” resection of colon two months ago
• 20# weight loss over the past year
• Has since gained the weight back
• Port placement in right chest for chemotherapy
• Current medical hx:
• Stage III colon cancer
Patient Overview
4. • Cancer of the large intestine
• Typically begins as benign colon polyps
that become cancerous overtime
• Often called colo-rectal cancer which
combines cancer of the rectum
What is colon cancer?
5. •Can be found in men or women
•Typically affects those 50+ years
of age.
•In 2013, 50,830 people died from
colon cancer
•Dietary risks include:
•Diet high in red meat
•Diet high in fat
•Diet low in calcium, folate,
and fiber.
•Inactivity and obesity has been
linked to higher risk of colon
cancer as well.
Prevalence of colon cancer
Most Common Cancers in the U.S.
Men Women
1. Prostate 1. Breast
2. Lung 2. Lung
3. Colon 3. Colon
6. Stages of Colon Cancer
Stage Description
Stage 0 Abnormal cells are found in the lining of the colon. These cells may become
cancerous.
Stage I Cancerous cells have formed and spread into the colon wall
Stage II Divided into three stages
-Stage IIA Cancer has spread to the outermost layer of the colon wall
-Stage IIB Cancer has spread through the outermost layer of the colon wall but has not
spread to nearby organs
-Stage IIC Cancer has spread through the outermost layer of the colon wall to nearby
organs
Stage III Divided into three stages
-Stage IIIA Cancer has spread to as many as 3 lymph nodes
-Stage IIIB Cancer has spread to as many as 3 lymph nodes and has spread:
beyond the middle tissue layers of the colon wall; or
to nearby tissues around the colon or rectum; or
beyond the colon wall into nearby organs and/or through the peritoneum.
-Stage IIIC Cancer has spread to 4 or more lymph nodes and has spread:
to or beyond the middle tissue layers of the colon wall; or
to nearby tissues around the colon or rectum; or
to nearby organs and/or through the peritoneum.
Stage IV Cancer may have spread to nearby lymph nodes and has spread to other parts of
the body, such as the liver or lungs
7. Medical Treatment of Colon Cancer
Chemotherapy
•Use of chemicals
to kill cells that
divide rapidly, like
cancer cells.
Surgery
•Tumor removal
•Colon resection
Radiation
•A needle at the
source of the
cancer directs
imaging technology
Biological Therapy
•Uses medicines
made from living
sources, rather than
chemicals, to kill
cancer cells
8. Goals of MNT
for cancer
patients
Medical Nutrition Therapy
Prevent or reverse nutrient
deficiencies
Preserve lean body mass
Minimize nutrition-related side
effects
Maximize the quality of life
9. • MNT will depend on the individual patient’s
clinical status.
• RD will evaluate the following information:
• Diagnosis
• Medical hx
• Treatment method
• Laboratory data
• Anthropometric measurements
• RD will determine if the following is present
• Malnutrition
• Fever
• Edema
• Ascites
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Diuretics
• The Registered Dietitian will use this information
to determine calorie, protein, and fluid needs, as
well as a potential need for supplementation.
Medical Nutrition Therapy for Colon Cancer
10. Nutritional Assessment
Pertinent Information
Height 70”
Weight 220 #
Ideal Body Weight 166 #
% Ideal Body Weight 132%
Adjusted Ideal Body Weight 179.5 #
Calcium 8.0 (low)
Albumin 3.8 (normal)
•No pertinent medications
•Patient’s son lives with him every other week
•Patient experiences decreased appetite,
nausea on chemotherapy weeks (every other
week)
•Patient takes phenergan for nausea
•Patient cannot eat/drink anything cold due
to a chemotherapy side effect
11. • 25-30 kcal/kg
of body weight
• 2,500-3,000
kcal/d.
• 30 ml of
fluid/kg of
body weight
• 3,000 ml/d =
101 fl oz/d
Nutrition Assessment
• 1.2 g of
protein/kg of
body weight
• 120g/d
Due to inadequate intake every other week
secondary to chemotherapy treatments, I
recommend Ensure Clear for chemotherapy weeks
12. • Ensure Clear can be consumed at
room temperature
• Must be refrigerated upon 4 hours
after opening
ENSURE CLEAR
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 10 fl oz
Calories 180 kcal
Protein 9 g
Carbohydrate 35 g
Total Fat 0 g
Essential Vitamins
& Minerals
21
13. Assessment
Diagnosis
InterventionMonitoring
Evaluation
Diagnosis
•Increased nutrient needs related
to compromised function of
intestine as evidenced by dx of
Stage III colon cancer,18” colon
resection, low calcium, and diet
history of poor intake during weeks
of treatment.
Intervention
•High calorie/high protein diet
education
•Ensure Clear nutritional
supplement
Monitoring & Evaluation
•Monitor weight, labs, PO intake
•Follow up in 3 months
Nutrition Care Process
14. References
•"Colon cancer: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia." U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S.
National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.
<http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000262.htm>.
•"Colorectal Cancer Overview." Colorectal Cancer Overview. Colon Cancer Alliance, n.d.
Web. 22 Apr. 2014. <http://www.ccalliance.org/colorectal_cancer/overview.html>.
•Mahan, L. Kathleen. "Medical Nutrition Therapy for Renal Disorders." Krause's food & nutrition
therapy. 12th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Saunders/Elsevier, 2008. Print.
•Mayo Clinic Staff. "Colon cancer." Definition. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.
<http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/colon-cancer/basics/definition/con-
20031877>.
•"NAACCR | North American Association of Central Cancer Registries." Top 5 Cancers in the
U.S.. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.
<http://www.naaccr.org/DataandPublications/Top5USCancers.aspx>.
•Rock, C. L.. "Dietary Counseling Is Beneficial for the Patient With Cancer." Journal of clinical
oncology 23 (): 1348-1349. Print.
