الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Leukemia is the most common type of childhood cancer. It accounts for 30% of all cancers diagnosed in children younger than 15 years. Malnutrition is a common problem in pediatric patients with cancer. The prevalence of malnutrition in leukemia patients at diagnosis is 5.8% During anticancer therapy, the cumulative incidence of malnutrition rose to 22% after 30 days, to 36% after 60 days and finally to 47%. This a prospective study was carried out in the pediatric oncology department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. The field study was conducted from October 2012 to July 2013. It involved all newly diagnosed leukemic pediatric patients (n=105) aged from 2-17 years. The aim of this study was to identify current nutritional services and practices and clarify pitfalls in nutritional management in the Pediatric department at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Cairo University and to implement a systematic nutritional program in order to assess the efficacy of individualized nutritional intervention on quality of life of children with leukemia during treatment. Tailored nutritional support was successful in preventing weight loss. It improved patients with lower percentile (p<0 .05). The supported group was more tolerant to therapy in the form of less febrile attacks (36.5%), less treatment delay pport didn{u2019}t affect the quality of life during the induction period. Nutritional support should be integrated into cancer treatment protocols. Support should start directly after admission independent of the initial body weight to establish the essential role of adequate nutrition in the mind of the child and parents. |