ESTRO 2024 - Abstract Book

S1684

Clinical - Lung

ESTRO 2024

Dietetic interventions were focussed on improving nutritional status, which had been compromised by symptoms such as anorexia and oesophagitis, by optimising nutritional intake with nutritional support techniques. Nutrition support interventions included oral interventions (advice on texture modification, increasing nutrient density and the use of ONS) and the provision of enteral nutrition via a feeding tube where severe oesophagitis occurred. Preliminary quotes from the semi-structured interviews show that patients valued dietetic support during RT, particularly if they had experienced unintentional weight loss or poor appetite. Patients talked about being given permission “to eat what you want” and the dietitian helping them to know which foods to eat to maintain or gain weight.

“So due to the gangrene and cancer I’d lost weight, the dietitian ordered these drinks for me for about 6 months. The drinks were a big help in getting my weight back up from 6 stone.to seven and a half”

“I always weighed 10 stone but then I lost two. It was fine when I saw [the dietitian] She put me on some energy drinks which I’m still taking and I’ve put a stone back on.”

Specialist dietetic follow up was not included in the PREHABS protocol but was provided if clinically indicated. Dietetic follow up after RT was appreciated by patients and one patient said:

“I still don’t eat a lot but I’m not losing any weight now”

Conclusion:

Scheduled dietetic appointments in the RT department during PREHABS allowed for timely dietetic assessment and counselling enabling management of nutritional problems. Embedding a specialist dietitian into the radical RT lung pathway has the potential to reduce admissions and treatment delays due to nutritional deterioration. Dietetic follow up after completion of RT was valued by patients and offered benefits for nutritional rehabilitation.