Abstract

MARQUES GOMES DA ROCHA, Ilanna et al. Nutritional status and chemotoxicity in oncology patients. Salud(i)ciencia [online]. 2018, vol.23, n.1, pp.20-26. ISSN 1667-8682.

Abstract Introduction: Cancer is a disease characterized by the uncontrolled growth of cells, whose treatment with chemotherapy acts as a control or remission and may prolong survival. However, chemotherapy can cause a number of side effects, called chemotoxicity, leading to malnutrition and compromising its effectiveness and tolerance. Objective: To investigate the association between chemotoxicity and the nutritional status of cancer patients. Methods: Longitudinal and retrospective study with chart analysis of patients with cancer of solid tumors, with at least 3 cycles of chemotherapy performed. Sociodemographic, clinical, anthropometric variables were collected and chemotoxicity was categorized according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI, 1999). Results: We evaluated 126 patients, mean age of 54.6 ± 13.9 years, predominantly female (68.3%). The most common cancers were breast (51%) and gastrointestinal tract (34.5%) and most were classified as stage IV (40.5%). Chemotoxicity showed up from the first cycle, with 52.5% biochemical toxicity. Comparing the first and the third cycles, no difference in toxicity was observed in relation to body mass index (BMI), white blood cells, platelets and hemoglobin; but there was a trend in the association of toxicity with neutrophils (p = 0.053). The GI toxicity significantly affected weight loss during treatment (p = 0.024). Conclusion: chemotoxicity was observed from the first cycle; however only the toxicity of the gastrointestinal tract was associated with weight loss.

Keywords : chemotherapy; nutrition; nutritional status; oncology; toxicity.

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