Effect of Nutritional Formula on Fatigue Among Patients With Advanced Lung Cancer at a University Hospital-Egypt.

Abstract

Background: Lung cancer is the most common cancer and cause of death worldwide. Almost 50 percent of lung cancer cases are found in the developing countries. The estimated numbers of new lung cancer cases in the Arab world show a gradual increase every year. Cancer lung and its treatment modalities increase incidence of fatigue. Many studied documented that patients with cancer related fatigue described it as more distressing than other cancer-related symptoms such as pain, depression, and nausea. Correction of anemia, exercises, dietary supplements rich in vitamins specially beta-carotene, yoga, complementary and alternative medicine have been suggested as strategies/ guidelines of managing fatigue. Natural nutritional supplementations were recommended by oncologists, nurse specialists, as well authors in the field of applied nutrition and they recommend juicing fruits and vegetables. One of the recommended formulas for fighting fatigue consisted of carrot, beetroot, mixed with celery juice (energy juice). Carrot juice is known as a miracle juice as it removes bacterial infection, beetroot act as anti cancer factor as well as powerful blood detoxifying agent and celery juice is a source of folic acid, vitamin B1&6.

Aim of the Study: Was to identify the effect of the nutritional formula on fatigue among lung cancer patients at a University Hospital-Egypt.

Design: Time series longitudinal comparative study.

Research questions: 1-a-What is the effect of the nutritional formula on fatigue among patients with advanced lung cancer before and after receiving chemotherapy?

1-b- Is there a difference between fatigue scores on the start of using the formula and at the end of rehydration period among patients with advanced cancer lung receiving chemotherapy?

2-a-Is there a relation between fatigue score prior and after taking the nutritional formula and

the selected medical outcome (duration of illness, hemoglobin, WBCs)?

2-b-Is there a relation between fatigue score prior and after taking the nutritional formula and patients' age, metastasis occurrence and chemotherapy medication?

Sample: A convenient sample of thirty patients with advanced lung cancer receiving chemotherapy was collected over a year. Two tools were used to collect data; Demographic & Medical data assessment sheet and the Revised Piper Fatigue Scale (PFS-R¹³).  Data were collected before receiving chemotherapy (on admission), one day after receiving chemotherapy (beginning of using the nutritional formula), after rehydration period (one week later), two weeks later & before discharge).

Results: Fatigue scores increased after receiving chemotherapy and began to decrease gradually after rehydration period, so there was a significant statistical difference between fatigue scores measured before and after the use of the nutritional formula. And there is a statistical significant difference over the four readings of fatigue scores reading and the selected medical responses (duration of illness Hgb 1^st reading & 2^nd reading, WBCs 1^st reading), age.

Conclusion: The suggested nutritional formula helped in decreasing fatigue among lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

Key words: Fatigue, cancer lung, chemotherapy, nutritional values (Carrots, celery, parsley).