Danang Oncology Hospital will continue to educate patients not to use colostrum.

The Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Da Nang Oncology Hospital, stated that they will adjust the image and continue to promote awareness for patients – Photo: DOAN NHAN

Previously, Tuoi Tre Online published an article titled "What did the hospital say after facing backlash for advising cancer patients not to use colostrum?".

The patient was malnourished but the milk purchased was unsuitable.

Talking to Tuoi Tre Online , MSc. Dr. Tran Thi Thanh - Deputy Head of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Da Nang Oncology Hospital - said that the information: "You should not use colostrum because the energy and protein are very low, there is no EPA, it will aggravate malnutrition and be costly for patients" has appeared on the projection screen in the waiting room of the department for many years. In it, there is an image of a can of A. milk (abbreviation) that recently caused a reaction from the distributors of this milk.

Dr. Thanh stated that the majority of cancer patients suffer from malnutrition due to the effects of insufficient energy and protein in their diet, as well as wasting syndrome caused by the tumor, leading to weight loss and muscle atrophy.

Therefore, a reasonable diet including milk for malnourished cancer patients must increase energy, increase protein and be rich in omega-3, especially EPA to help improve weight, improve muscle mass and quality of life. In addition, it depends on the underlying disease to choose such as diabetes, liver failure, kidney failure...

Most cancer patients are malnourished, but believing exaggerated advertising claims about its benefits, they spend large sums of money buying milk that is unsuitable for this group of cancer patients.

Doctor Thanh explained that with milk A., which many patients buy, doctors have to advise them against using it because each 150ml serving of milk A. has very low energy (50 kcal), low protein (2.6g protein), and no omega-3 (EPA), while a 200ml serving of milk intended for cancer patients has about 250-300 kcal of energy, 10-20g of protein, and some varieties even contain omega-3.

Considering the composition of milk A, the energy and protein content is too low, while patients are spending a large amount of money to buy it, leaving them without the funds to buy a suitable type for their condition, thus exacerbating their malnutrition.

The image will be adjusted.

Dr. Thanh said that many underprivileged patients spent money, even borrowed, to buy milk A because they heard sellers advertise it as helping to boost immunity and fight cancer. When prescribed additional milk to improve their malnutrition, the patients no longer had the money to buy other types of milk.

Because this condition is so common, and not all patients know how to read the ingredient list on a milk carton, doctors have to include a specific image of milk A along with the advice above to help patients easily identify it.

The propaganda content displayed on the screen was temporarily removed to adjust the infringing images – Photo: DOAN NHAN

"In this matter, the use of the milk company's image was inappropriate, but I was only doing my job professionally, for the benefit of the patients. I will learn from this experience and make adjustments accordingly, but I will still maintain my original stance," Dr. Thanh said, adding that he will adjust the content that includes the image of milk company A in the content board and continue to disseminate the information.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/benh-vien-ung-buou-da-nang-se-tiep-tuc-tuyen-truyen-benh-nhan-khong-dung-sua-non-2025010816044374.htm