Sep 14, 2025
1:00 PM2:00 PM
Poster Session
P364 - MISPERCEPTIONS AND MYTHS ABOUT NUTRITION DURING RADIOTHERAPY: A SURVEY OF MOROCCAN PATIENTS TREATED IN THE RADIOTHERAPY DEPARTMENT AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ONCOLOGY
P364
MISPERCEPTIONS AND MYTHS ABOUT NUTRITION DURING RADIOTHERAPY: A SURVEY OF MOROCCAN PATIENTS TREATED IN THE RADIOTHERAPY DEPARTMENT AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ONCOLOGY
R. Laraichi1,2,*, I. Skitioui1,2, S. Smiti1,2, K. Nouni1,2, A. Lachgar1,2, H. El kacemi1,2, T. kebdani1,2, K. Hassouni1,2
1radiotherapy, national institute of oncology, 2Faculty of medecine, Mohammed V university, Rabat, Morocco
Rationale: Misconceptions about nutrition during radiation therapy can sometimes lead to delayed treatment, and complicate short- and long-term recovery.
The aim of this work is to research the misconceptions that patients have about nutrition during radiotherapy in order to propose corrective actions.
Methods: Descriptive study conducted in the radiotherapy department at the National Institute of Oncology, from December 2024 to February 2025. 100 patients undergoing radiotherapy for different tumors were interviewed during the treatment monitoring consultation. We tried to collect the different ideas that patients have about nutrition using semi-directed questionnaires structured into items: nutritional balance, sugar, meat, milk and derivatives, fats, industrial food, and beneficial or miracle foods.
Results: 100 cancer patients were interviewed. The average age of the patients was 49 years (range: 19, 81 years). The most common tumor locations were: breast 36%, prostate 21% and ENT tumors 20%. The main misconceptions raised about nutrition during radiotherapy were: 1/ sugar feeds cancer (84%) 2/Meat and dairy products causes cancer (62%) 3/Organic foods are better (54%) 4/ Quick and easy cooking methods and microwaves causes cancer (34%) 5/ Super foods can help to cure cancer (25%) 6/Drinking tea and coffee prevent cancer recurrence (16%) 7/Cleanse or detox diet help the body get rid of the cancer (3%).
39% of patients included in this study were following a restrictive diet at the time of the survey without prior medical advice.
Conclusion: This work highlights several misconceptions about nutrition during radiotherapy, these can be explained by the media coverage of nutritional advice that is still not adapted to the patient's condition or their dietary needs. Hence, the major interest in the dietary follow-up consultation.
Disclosure of Interest: None declared