VEI IV · Nutrition Support
Nutrition IVs for cancer patients provide fluids, electrolytes and nutrients such as glucose, amino acids and fats through a vein when you cannot eat enough during chemotherapy or after surgery. They do not treat cancer. They are supportive care to help maintain your condition as you continue treatment. At VEI Clinic, we review your treating physician's plan and tailor the formulation accordingly.
Eating and drinking by mouth come first, and feeding through the gut is considered when needed. A nutrition IV is chosen when those are difficult or not enough, after checking your nutritional status and your oncologist's treatment plan.
The ingredients and amounts we can use depend on your chemotherapy schedule, blood test results and current medications. Bring your treatment plan and recent test results from your treating hospital so we can tailor the IV. If needed, we will ask you to discuss it with your treating physician.
High-dose vitamins and certain ingredients are sometimes claimed to treat cancer, but the evidence is insufficient. They can also interact with chemotherapy, so we do not add them without careful consideration.
When chemotherapy lowers your white blood cell count, infection prevention is especially important, so we use sterile technique at the injection site. Please tell us in advance if you have an implanted chemotherapy port.
If your heart or kidney function is reduced, the IV volume may need to be lower. If you have eaten very little for a long time or lost a lot of weight, refeeding syndrome (a sudden shift in electrolytes after nutrition restarts) can occur, so we assess you first and increase the amount gradually. Tell us right away if you become short of breath, swollen or notice palpitations during the IV.
An internal medicine specialist tailors the nutrition IV to your treating hospital's care plan. Nutrition IVs do not replace chemotherapy. All IV rooms are private rooms where you can lie down and rest comfortably.
FAQ
Nutrition IVs do not treat cancer. They are supportive care that helps maintain your condition when you are eating too little, so you can continue treatment.
We review your treatment schedule and blood test results before deciding on suitable timing and ingredients. We recommend letting your treating physician know before proceeding.
Fluids and electrolytes form the base, with glucose, amino acids, fats and vitamins added as needed. Amounts are tailored to your condition and test results.
Depending on the formulation and amount, it may take an hour to several hours. You receive it while lying down in a private room.
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