P028 - DRACONIAN DIET DURING RADIOTHERAPY: WHAT CONSEQUENCES FOR THE CANCER PATIENT AND HIS TREATMENT?

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P028

DRACONIAN DIET DURING RADIOTHERAPY: WHAT CONSEQUENCES FOR THE CANCER PATIENT AND HIS TREATMENT?

R. Laraichi1,2,*, S. Smiti1,2, F. Z. Chraa1,2, 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: A draconian diet is a type of extreme diet where caloric intake is drastically reduced to often less than 1000 calories per day. The main risk of its practice in cancer patients would be to cause malnutrition.

The aim of this work is to assess the harmful consequences of practicing restrictive diet on the nutritional state of patients and the course of radiotherapy.

Methods: This is a retrospective study including 54 patients treated for different tumors. Patients received radiotherapy with or without concomitant chemotherapy from January 2024 to December 2024. They were included in the study following the observation, by the treating team of obvious weight loss not explained by the tumor site or treatment. these patients confirm having followed a restrictive diet (no sugar, no meat, no lactose, etc.). The impact on the patient's BMI, physical strength and the course of radiotherapy were evaluated. 

Results: 54 cancer patients confirmed having followed restrictive diets during radiotherapy. 94% of these patients heard about this type of diet in the media and from their entourage. All our patients confirmed that the dietary restrictions adopted were not the subject of medical advice or a dietary monitoring. The average weight loss was estimated of 5 kg (range 3 to 9 kg) in one month of dieting. 83% of patients experienced asthenia with increased mood disorders, most often as a result of sugar deprivation.

Interruptions of treatment were observed in 12 patients due to patient' absenteeism (fatigue) or the need to reschedule treatment because of weight loss.The overall treatment time of radiotherapy was extended by an average of 4 days. 

Conclusion: Following a draconian diet during radiotherapy can have harmful consequences on the health of cancer patient and on the course of treatment. A balanced diet and regular dietary monitoring are recommended during radiotherapy.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared