A coalition of leading cancer charities has published new guidelines to support cancer patients in eating well.
Penny Brohn UK and Macmillan Cancer Support teamed up, along with specialist dietitians from Avon and Somerset NHS Trusts, to create two free in-depth booklets to help people living with cancer to eat well; Eating well during cancer treatment and Eating well when eating becomes difficult.
Funded by Macmillan Cancer Support, the booklets provide guidance and tips on eating well during treatment and also look at specific symptoms that can make eating during treatment difficult, and was compiled by oncology dietitians, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, radiographers and nutritional therapists.
Dr Catherine Zollman, Medical Director at Penny Brohn UK, explained: “Eating well is an important way to support health and wellbeing, but this isn’t always easy for people affected by cancer. These booklets are the first evidence-based guidance produced jointly by doctors, NHS dietitians and nutritional therapists, designed to take the stress and contradiction out of eating to support health during cancer treatment.”
Vicky Jane, Specialist Dietitian from NHS North Bristol Trust, added: “These resources aim to provide people with evidence-based guidance and practical advice to eat well during treatment, answer commonly asked questions, and help people manage their diet in the presence of cancer and treatment related side-effects. It has been fantastic to have a collaborative approach to this project with other local professionals, and we really hope that these resources help to reduce the confusion surrounding nutrition and cancer treatment.”
