Nutrition - Dietetic support
What we do
We are specialists in nutrition during cancer and support people
to help them eat well to support their bodies at any stage of the
cancer pathway including rehabilitation. Our consultations are
usually carried out over the phone, but video call or face to face
consultations can be arranged.
Why we can help you
When people are diagnosed with cancer it can bring about
questions about nutrition and what they can do to support their
health. There can be a lot of information available in books, in
the media and online. Some of which can be helpful, and some can be
confusing and maybe harmful.
People who are diagnosed with a gynaecological cancer can
experience symptoms such as fullness in their stomach, bloating and
a reduced appetite and some of the side effects of cancer treatment
can affect taste, appetite, and changes in bowel function. This can
impact on how well you can eat and may lead to weight loss and
reduction in muscle mass. There is lots of evidence that tells us
that eating well, maintaining weight and activity levels during
treatment can help people to cope with cancer treatment, support
the immune system, improve recovery after surgery and maintain a
good quality of life.
How we can help you
We can help to decipher nutritional evidence and provide expert
personalised guidance around diet and lifestyle to support your
health. When people are struggling to eat due to symptoms of cancer
or treatment side effects, we can provide nutritional counselling
and tailored advice to help you manage your symptoms and improve
your nutritional intake.
This could include practical advice on foods to choose, portion
sizes, food shopping, cooking and recipe ideas. Dietitians also
work closely with other members of a patient's care team to provide
effective and holistic care and can arrange prescriptions of oral
nutritional supplements if required.
Useful information
The Diet and Cancer website has lots of
information and video's to help manage symptoms which impact on
your dietary intake for example coping with a small appetite,
coping with taste changes, coping with a dry or sore mouth, coping
with fatigue. Whilst these resources are written for people with
cancer in general, they are still very relevant to people with
gynaecological cancers. There is also information about eating a
healthy diet with cancer and useful links to reputable
websites.
FAQs
(adapted from the WCRF website which has been reviewed and
endorsed by the British Dietetic Association Oncology Specialist
Dietitians)
Do I need to take dietary supplements during cancer
treatment?
Dietary supplements are intended as a supplement to your daily
diet and can contain one nutrient, such as vitamin C, or a
combination, such as a multivitamin supplement. Dietary supplements
come in the form of pills, powders, drops, capsules or drinks.
If you eat a healthy and varied diet, it is likely you will be
getting enough vitamins and minerals from the food you eat. There
can be risks if you take dietary supplements during treatment, as
certain vitamin and mineral supplements can reduce the effect of
radiation and chemotherapy.
We recommend that you only take supplements if you are deficient
in a certain nutrient. If you think you may be low in a particular
vitamin or mineral, it is best to speak to your doctor or
dietitian. If a supplement is advised, it is best to choose one
that contains up to 100% of the RNI (reference nutrient intake -
the RNI tells you how much of a vitamin or mineral you need in a
day). If you are planning on using certain dietary supplements
during radiation or chemotherapy you should discuss this with your
doctor and dietitian first.
Does sugar cause cancer growth?
People often ask if sugar feeds cancer, despite the bad press,
the evidence does not support this. When we eat carbohydrates of
any type the body breaks it down into its simplest form, glucose.
All body cells require glucose for energy, including cancer cells.
A low sugar diet will not stop cancer cells getting energy, If the
body is starved of foods containing sugar cancer cells will find an
alternative energy source and the body will breakdown protein and
fat stores to make glucose.
There are benefits to limiting sugary food, and fast foods,
which are often high in fat and salt. Replacing these foods with
healthy alternatives can help you achieve a healthy balanced diet
and help to maintain a healthy weight which is important for cancer
prevention and our health overall.
If you have a poor appetite due to illness or treatment and have
experienced unintentional weight loss, sugar can be useful to help
you get enough calories to help you maintain a healthy weight.
Do I need to follow a specific diet?
You do not need to follow a specific diet when you have cancer
unless you have been advised to by a Doctor or Dietitian. For most
people the recommendation is to eat a healthy balanced diet if
possible. This includes eating a diet which includes a variety of
plant foods (fruits and vegetables, seeds, pulses and legumes),
lean protein sources, and starchy carbohydrates including
wholegrains.
People with cancer tend to need a slightly increased protein
intake than the general population. Protein can be found in meats,
fish, eggs, dairy and plant foods such as beans, peas and pulses,
tofu, tempeh, soy products, Quorn and other meat substitutes.
If you are losing weight, have a reduced appetite or feel very
full quickly you may need to relax healthy eating practices and
choose foods which are higher in calories and protein to prevent
weight loss. Speak to your medical team if you need advice.
Useful information
Diet and Cancer
Macmillan.org.uk web page on healthy eating and
cancer
World Cancer Research Fund: living with
cancer
World Cancer Research Fund: recipes designed for
people with taste changes
Contact us
Dietitians: Jo Porter / Rachel White
Telephone: 0117 342 7360
