Closing the Nutritional Care Gap in Cancer Treatment
Cancer is estimated to affect about half of us during our lifetimes, profoundly impacting patients and their loved ones1. Danone is committed to supporting patients and healthcare systems to drive better health outcomes through advanced research, pioneering medical nutrition, and educational services.
- Malnutrition is highly prevalent among patients with cancer, affecting up to 70% of them, both as a result of the disease and the treatment. This can be detrimental when a patient’s body needs to be at its strongest.
- Medical nutrition is specifically designed to address the needs of malnourished patients. Yet, despite its proven clinical benefits, only a limited number of patients receive the right nutritional support, as medical nutrition is often overlooked in cancer policies.
- Because every patient deserves to receive the necessary nutritional care, we need to address policy gaps and include medical nutrition into cancer care frameworks.
- We join the WHO Europe’s call to governments to invest in policy change to tackle this issue and urge EU policymakers to revise Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan to fully acknowledge the role of nutrition and medical nutrition in cancer care
33 million
ADULTS IN THE EU SUFFER FROM UNTREATED MALNUTRITION2
costing 170 billion euros annually
up to 70%
PATIENTS WITH CANCER WHO SUFFER FROM MALNUTRITION3
affecting treatment outcomes
only 1 in 3
PATIENTS WITH CANCER WHO NEED MEDICAL NUTRITION, GET IT4
despite its clinically proven benefits
1. WHO: World Health Organization, an International Agency for Research on Cancer in Europe: link
2. Medical Nutrition Industry International, 2020
3. Ryan AM, et al. Nutrition. 2019;67-68:110539
4. Ipsos European Oncology Patient Survey, data on file, 2023
Malnutrition in patients with cancer
Malnutrition is a condition where a person is not getting the right nutrition in the right amount to sustain their health.
It can affect up to 70% of patients with cancer, as a result of both the disease and the treatment. Patients often experience eating difficulties (such as taste alterations or swallowing issues), leading to insufficient food intake and weight or muscle loss, which can be detrimental when the body needs to be at its strongest, causing delays or interruptions in treatment5.
While on the rise, disease-related malnutrition, such as in cancer, remains a severely underrecognized public health issue in the European Union. This can be due to low awareness, insufficient screening, and lack of healthcare resources.
5. Ipsos European Oncology Patient Survey, data on file, 2023
Medical nutrition and cancer
Medical nutrition can make a real difference in the lives of people battling cancer, supporting treatment outcomes and quality of life6. Designed and clinically proven to address the nutritional needs of malnourished patients, medical nutrition can supplement their regular food and drink intake to ensure patients meet their daily nutritional needs.
However, despite its benefits, medical nutrition is underutilized, with only 1 in 3 cancer patients who need it receiving it7.
6. Burden et al. 2017 J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle, 8(3):437-486
7. Ipsos European Oncology Patient Survey, data on file, 2023
Addressing policy gaps in Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan
Every patient deserves to receive malnutrition screening, reliable nutrition advice from healthcare professionals, and nutritional support when necessary. To achieve this, we need to integrate nutrition services into care frameworks by addressing gaps in workforce training, clinical pathways, dietetic services, and reimbursement schemes.
Cancer has been a key health priority at the EU level. Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, unveiled in 2021, sets out a common approach to cancer prevention, treatment, and care. However, despite the proven benefits of medical nutrition in cancer treatment and recovery, nutritional support is still omitted from the Plan.
Our Call to Action: Close the nutritional care gap
As outlined in our EU Call to Action 2024-2029 and in the wake of the European Parliament resolution on the report “Strengthening Europe in the fight against cancer”, Danone urges EU policymakers to revise Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan to fully acknowledge the role of nutritional support, and medical nutrition in particular, in treatments.
Danone urges EU policymakers to revise Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan to fully acknowledge the role of nutritional support, and medical nutrition in particular, in treatments:
1. Screening and monitoring cancer patients for malnutrition to provide timely nutritional care
2. Implementing existing clinical nutrition guidelines for cancer patients
3. Providing equal access to and reimbursement for medical nutrition
4. Implementing multi-disciplinary oncology teams, including dietitians or registered nutritionists
5. Educating health professionals and patient advocates on the importance of nutritional care, and informing cancer patients about the importance of good nutrition status in cancer care
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