An overview of how to nourish the cancer patient by mouth.

Nutrition education should start at diagnosis to prevent complications caused by malnutrition and weight loss. The cancer patient experiencing difficulty with eating requires extensive counseling. The causes of anorexia may be mechanical, psychological, or physiologic. Treatment of cancer also interferes with adequate intake. The diet needs to be tailored to the patient. Counseling on diet modification and supplementation or relaxation techniques may improve the patients intake. Ongoing diet instruction, encouragement, and reinforcement will allow the patient to achieve their goals.