February 09, 2012

PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS MONTH BRINGS IMPORTANCE OF NUTRITION TO THE FOREFRONT OF TREATMENT

MINNETONKA, Minn., Aug. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- This year more than 186,000 men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. That's 522 new diagnoses every day. In recognition of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, Nestle HealthCare Nutrition is raising awareness surrounding the importance of nutrition prior to-and during-various treatment options, most notably, surgical options.

Prostate Cancer and Surgical Treatment

When caught and treated early, prostate cancer has a cure rate of over 90 percent, making it one of the most treatable forms of cancer. Still, being diagnosed with prostate cancer is a life-changing experience that requires men and their doctors to make difficult decisions about treatment options. Surgery is a common treatment option because if all the prostate cancer can be removed, the opportunity for a cure is most likely. Surgery also provides the doctor with accurate information about the stage of the cancer since nearby lymph nodes may be removed along with the tumor.

According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, a surgical approach to the treatment of prostate cancer can be used to remove all or part of the prostate and is a frequently selected treatment option to beat the disease. It's common for men in the early stages of the disease, or who have been diagnosed with cancer that is confined to the prostate, to undergo radical prostatectomy, or surgical removal of the entire prostate gland and surrounding tissue. Other surgical procedures may be performed on men with advanced or recurrent disease. It's important for these men to consider the effects of surgery on the body and prepare themselves prior to the surgical procedure. Patients looking to find more information on prostate cancer detection, treatment options and research can visit the Prostate Cancer Foundation online at http://www.pcf.org.

Although surgery is a highly popular treatment option for prostate cancer, as with any major surgery, there is risk involved. That risk could include infection or other unforeseen complications that should be considered and discussed with the surgeon prior to treatment. However, there are precautions patients can take to decrease surgical complications and increase their chances for a speedy recovery.

Role of Nutrition When Preparing for Surgery

A healthy nutritional status prepares the body for surgery by building strength, supporting the immune system and helping to speed recovery. For cancer patients, optimal nutrition is vital. Cancer and cancer treatment can deplete the body's nutrients and result in weight loss from negative effects on appetite and the body's ability to tolerate food. These factors lead to high nutrient need and low nutrient intake -- a vulnerable state for cancer patients who need to defend against infection following surgery.

When the body isn't getting enough nutrients the immune system is affected, meaning tolerance to, and the effectiveness of, treatment may be decreased and the risk of infection greater. In preparation for prostate cancer surgery, known as prostatectomy, many surgeons may recommend specially formulated nutritional products to aid in post-surgery recuperation.

IMPACT ADVANCED RECOVERY(TM) Nutritional Beverage One such product, IMPACT ADVANCED RECOVERY(TM) Nutritional Beverage, is the only pre-surgical nutritional intervention clinically proven to significantly reduce the rate of postoperative complications. Fourteen randomized clinical studies with more than 2,000 cancer surgery patients have shown that people who use IMPACT ADVANCED RECOVERY benefit from a decreased risk of infection, fewer complications and shorter hospital stays.(1)(2)(3) Accordingly, appropriate use of IMPACT ADVANCED RECOVERY Nutritional Beverage has been correlated to be cost effective.(4) Usage instructions for the ready-to-drink vanilla or chocolate flavored nutritional supplement are for three, 8-fluid ounce cartons each day for five days prior to surgery.

IMPACT ADVANCED RECOVERY and other nutritional products supporting patients with cancer can be found and purchased on Nestle HealthCare Nutrition's new Web site, NestleNutritionStore.com. This online resource was created to provide nutritional guidance during the cancer journey all the way to recovery. An in-depth resource center is combined with access to specialized nutritional products for cancer and other illnesses not available in retail stores.

"For those facing surgery due to prostate cancer, the new Web site is a vital resource to consider as they prepare for treatment," said Sean Foster, vice president of marketing for Nestle North America.

Patients and caregivers who purchase products on the Nestle HealthCare Nutrition site -- nestlenutritionstore.com/prostatecancer -- will receive 10 percent off their orders between Aug. 25, 2008 and Sept. 30, 2008. Enter promo code IMPACT08 at checkout.

Nestle HealthCare Nutrition, part of Nestle Nutrition, offers complete nutritional solutions for people with specific illnesses, disease states or the special challenges of different life stages. Nestle HealthCare Nutrition was formed from the combination of Novartis Medical Nutrition, acquired by Nestle in 2007, and the existing Nestle HealthCare Nutrition business. The company offers the most comprehensive range of nutritional support products in the marketplace. Nestle Nutrition helps to enhance the quality of life by supporting health and providing care for people with special nutrition needs at every stage of life. Nestle Nutrition is built around four core businesses: Infant Nutrition, HealthCare Nutrition, Performance Nutrition and Weight Management. For more information about Nestle Nutrition, please consult: nestlenutrition.com.

    1.  Gianotti L, Braga M. Perioperative nutrition in cancer patients.
        Nutr Clin Metabol.2001;15:298-307.
    2.  Gianotti L, Braga M, Nespoli L et al. A Randomized Controlled Trial of
        Preoperative Oral Supplementation With a Specialized Diet in Patients
        With Gastrointestinal Cancer. Gastroenterology 2002; 122(7):1763-1770.
    3.  Braga M, Gianotti L et al. Preoperative oral arginine and n-3 fatty
        acid supplementation improves the immunometabolic host response and
        outcome after colorectal resection for cancer. Surgery 2002;
        132:805-814.
    4.  Braga M, Gianotti L. Preoperative immunonutrition: cost-benefit
        analysis. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr.
        2005 Jan-Feb;29(1 Suppl):S57-61.

SOURCE Nestle HealthCare Nutrition