People with cancer are at high risk of becoming malnourished, with around 1 in 3 patients affected¹. Malnutrition has a negative impact on clinical outcomes and mortality in patients with cancer. It is associated with shorter survival, poor quality of life and performance status, impaired immune function, increased treatment-related toxicities, as well as increased post-surgical complications and longer hospital stays and costs of stay^2-4. As part of new guidelines, ESMO endorses implementation of nutritional management as integral part of cancer care and provides recommendations for identification, prevention and treatment of reversible elements of malnutrition in adult cancer patients.

Cancer treatment is often a complex and difficult journey, and ensuring patients are fit to receive treatment is crucial to improve patient outcomes and prognosis. Cancer treatments act a trigger of catabolism, leading to weight and muscle loss, that adversely impact clinical outcomes^1-4.  Early detection and treatment of malnutrition is essential to optimize cancer care^3,4.