Eating Difficulties, Psychological Distress, and Self-Management in Colorectal Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Qualitative Study - PubMed
4 hours ago
- #nutritional psychology
- #colorectal cancer
- #chemotherapy side-effects
- Eating difficulties in colorectal cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy are linked to complex, fluctuating symptom clusters that reduce appetite and alter taste.
- Patients employ dietary self-management strategies like flexible adjustments, trial-and-error experimentation, and emotional regulation to cope and regain a sense of control.
- Uncertainty and unmet support needs include confusion about proper diet, fear of dietary impact on treatment, and exposure to conflicting information.
- Patients desire structured, personalized guidance that addresses both nutritional and emotional concerns to improve symptom control and quality of life.
- The study recommends integrating patient-centered nutritional care with psycho-oncological support through multidisciplinary collaboration.