Cancer

Cancer is a term used to refer to malignant tumours. Tumours are cells in a tissue which grow uncontrollably. Tumours can be Benign or malignant. Benign tumours grow and remain in their tissue of origin whereas malignant tumours grow and spread to other tissues thereby hindering their functions.  The cancer cells are developed due to the activation of abnormal genes called the ‘oncogenes’. Cancer can occur at any age and in any part of the body and due to several reasons.

Cancers are caused by genetic as well as environmental factors – Heredity, Ionizing radiations such as X-rays, gamma rays, UV rays etc., Chemical substances like benzene and asbestos (carcinogens), estrogens, viruses, stress and age are some of the causative factors.

Diet and cancer are associated. Almost all cancers (80–90%) are caused by environmental factors and of these; 30–40% of cancers are directly linked to the diet. There is also a significant relation between lifestyle (including food consumption) and cancer prevention.

The objectives of nutritional therapy are to meet the increased metabolic demand of the diseased condition and prevent catabolism as much as possible, and to alleviate symptoms resulting from the disease and its treatment through adaptation of food and feeding process.

Following are the nutritional requirements in cancer:

Post by Faiz Lahori