Fundraising is officially underway for the 2018 Carroll County Relay for Life, and coordinators invited a doctor who specializes in urological oncology to share how the American Cancer Society makes cancer research possible. Dr. Kenneth Nepple, a Templeton-native and Kuemper graduate, is currently a surgeon at the University of Iowa (UI) Hospitals and Clinics. He recently led a study on the effects of malnutrition in cancer patients and the associated complications.
Nepple says there is a limited amount of data on patient malnutrition in a clinical setting. His study aimed to identify the frequency of this issue and then determine what impacts it had on patient outcomes.
Follow-ups concluded patients saw significant improvements in recovery times and lowered post-surgery complications. The study led to a direct change to care in the oncology department. UI Hospitals increased the number of dietitians on staff from 25 to 33 and now identifies and treats malnutrition with a relatively cheap prevention method. Nepple says this improvement in treatment was made possible, in part, thanks to the American Cancer Society.
He stressed that continued support for organizations like the ACS is critical for funding cancer research. Last year, Carroll County raised $200,000 during the Relay for Life and placed third nationally in the per-capita category. The 2018 Relay for Life will be held at the Carroll Soccer Complex on Friday, June 22. For more information on how to get involved, follow the links included below this story.
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http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLCY18NOR?pg=entry&fr_id=87602
https://www.facebook.com/Relay-For-Life-of-Carroll-County-IA-306705249405660/
