How do I know your advice for people living with cancer is reliable?
Our advice for people living with cancer has been written by World Cancer Research Fund’s team of experienced nutritionists, with the support of dietitians from the Oncology Specialist Group of the British Dietetic Association (BDA).
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Founded in 1936, the BDA is one of the oldest and most experienced dietetic organisations in the world.
Deborah Howland, BDA specialist dietitian, says: “When going through cancer, eating can be a challenge and knowing what to eat can be very difficult and sometimes confusing. That’s why Eat well during cancer is an important piece of work which will be a real help to many people living with cancer.
“The Eat well during cancer booklet features some invaluable tips on how different foods can help people cope with some of the common side-effects of cancer treatment. It has the benefit of being written with specialist dietitians so people can be confident that the information is not only accurate but practical. The booklet won’t only be useful for patients but for health professionals too.”
The booklet has also been recognised by doctors, and was commended in the 2018 BMA Patient Information awards.
> Download or order a copy of Eat Well During Cancer for free
Is your advice in the living with cancer section safe for all adults with cancer?
Our advice has been written in conjunction with specialist oncology dietitians (dietitians who have specialist expertise in working with people with cancer) and should be safe to follow for most adults who have cancer.
However, it’s a general guide and is not suitable for people who are eating very little, have lost a lot of weight unintentionally or are receiving end-of-life treatment – people in these groups will need specialist information and advice which should be available from their teams.
If you follow a special diet for another medical condition, such as heart disease, diabetes, or renal failure, or have had a colostomy or ileostomy, this website may not be suitable for you. In this situation, you should speak to your doctor or dietitian about what safe changes you can make to your diet.
Is an appointment with a dietitian helpful when you’re living with cancer?
An appointment with a dietitian can be very helpful. They will be able to give you personalised advice and guidance.
A dietitian will be able to provide evidence-based, expert advice on the diet needed to ensure you are eating as well as possible. They can provide nutritional counselling to patients and their families/carers at any stage of the cancer pathway, including rehabilitation.
An oncology dietitian can help advise patients who are experiencing specific dietary problems as a result of cancer or its treatment.
These dietary problems include loss of appetite, sore or dry mouth, taste changes, weight loss, nausea and vomiting, or a change in bowel habits.
Dietitians provide patients and families or carers with practical advice on foods to choose, portion sizes and meal plans to help support patients at diagnosis, during and after treatment. Advice regarding food shopping, cooking and recipe ideas can also be provided.
Dietitians also work closely with other members of a patient’s care team to provide effective and holistic care.
> You can also call our Cancer and Nutrition Helpline
What should I do if your advice conflicts with that of my doctor or dietitian?
Where the advice in this section of our website differs from the advice given to you by your doctor or dietitian, you should always follow their advice as it will be specific to your needs.
It should also be noted that many of the specific suggestions in this section of the website, while safe, will not help everyone – they are suggestions that other people have found helpful and that you might also want to try.
If I follow the cancer prevention recommendations on this website, do I still need to take my medication?
There’s no scientific evidence that changes to your diet or lifestyle can cure cancer, so it’s vital to continue taking prescribed medication as instructed by your doctor.
If you feel you no longer need a certain medication, you’ll need to discuss this with your doctor before you stop taking it.
As with all medication, make sure you ask your doctor or a pharmacist, or read the patient information to find out if it interacts with any food or drink (or any supplements you may have been advised to take).
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