Patients with head and neck cancer often face a tough battle. Their bodies struggle to keep up with the demands of treatment. A new look at the evidence suggests that preparing the body before surgery or radiation can make a real difference. This preparation, called nutritional prehabilitation, includes things like nutritional counseling, specific diet formulas, and swallow training. The goal is to get patients in the best possible shape before they start their main treatment.
The review examined multiple studies to see if this preparation helped. The findings are clear. Patients who received this extra care had better nutritional status. They also experienced fewer complications and spent less time in the hospital. Their body weight and BMI improved, and their overall quality of life was higher. Essentially, getting ready beforehand helps them survive and recover better.
However, the current evidence has some gaps. The quality of the studies included in this review needs to be improved. More high-quality, large-scale clinical studies should be conducted in the future to confirm these results. Until then, this analysis provides a solid basis for clinical practice. It guides doctors on how to implement nutritional prehabilitation for their patients. The message is simple: do not wait until a patient is too weak to help them. Start the preparation early.
