April 2008 - Please see this interesting article shown below: "Pretreatment Swallowing Exercises Benefit Head and Neck Cancer Patients" * * * * * * * * * * Postsurgery enteral nutrition in head and neck cancer patients. De Luis DA, Aller R, Izaola O, Cuellar L, Terroba MC Institute of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Medicine School and Hospital Rio Hortega, Spain. OBJECTIVE: Patients with head and neck cancer undergoing surgery have a high incidence of postoperative complications. The aim of our study was to investigate whether postoperative nutrition of head and neck cancer patients, using an arginine-enriched diet, could improve nutritional variables as well as clinical outcomes. DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. SETTING: Tertiary care. SUBJECTS: A population of 47 patients with oral and laryngeal cancer were enrolled. INTERVENTIONS: At surgery patients were randomly allocated to two groups: (a) patients receiving an enteral diet supplemented with arginine and fiber (group I); (b) patients receiving an isocaloric, isonitrogenous enteral formula (group II). RESULTS: No significant intergroup differences in the trend of the three plasma proteins and lymphocytes were detected. Gastrointestinal tolerance (diarrhea) of both formulas was good (17.4% group I and 8.3% group II; NS). During the 3 months after hospital discharge five patients died; no diferences were detected between groups (13% group I and 8.3% group II; NS). The incidences postoperative infection complications were similar (nine patients) in both groups (21.7% group I and 16.7% group II; NS). Fistula were less frequent in enriched nutrition group (0% group I and 20.8% group II; P<0.05); wound infection was more frequent in group II, but without statistical difference (4.3% group I and 12.5% group II; NS). The length of postoperative stay was 22.8+/-11.8 days in the enriched group and 31.2+/-19.1 days in the control group (P=0.07). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, enriched formula improves local wound complications in postoperative head and neck cancer patients. Our results suggest that these patients could benefit from an immunonutrient-enhanced enteral formula. Eur J Clin Nutr 2002 Nov;56(11):1126-9 J Nutr, 12/02 Efficacy of Oral Lycopene to Treat Oral Leukoplakia Oral Lycopene: Efficacious for Oral Leukoplakia Lycopene Review of Laryngoscope. 2008;118(1):39-43. Euro J Cancer Prevent, 6/03 Meta-Analysis Fruit/Veg & Oral Cancer J Supportive Care in Cancer, 7/03 Oral Care in Pts with Head/Neck Ca Painkillers Cut Risk of Mouth Cancer Tea Heals Skin Damaged by Radiation Abstract #1004 ASCO, 2004 Br J Cancer, 5/04 Dgnstc Potl: Salivary Bacteria & Oral Cancer Laser Surgery Preserves Sensory Pharyngeal Nerve Branches 6th Intl Conf Head/Neck Ca, 8/04 Original article, Reuters Health, Oct 2007 Intl J Cancer, 9/04 Curcumin Suppresses Growth of Head/Neck CA Cells Euro J Clin Nutr, 5/04 online Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, 2003 Dietary Flavonoids & Oral Cell Ca Apoptosis & Physiological Markers:oral Preneoplasia/Squamous Bowman Birk Inhibitor Vs Oral Leukoplakia LINKS Oral Oncology, 11/06 Brit J Cancer, 2/07 Articles and links Incidence & Familial Risks Pituitary Adenoma & assoc. Acupuncture Releases Pituitary Beta-Endorphins Food Irradiation and Pituitary Tumors AACR, April 2007 Abstract 3506 Press Release Presented at Am Soc Thera Rad & Onc, 11/01 Canadian Assoc Rad Onc, 110/02 Nature.com LINK to blog for Karen who has throat cancer using CAM Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.