Nutritional support for people with cancer If you have cancer, eating a healthy, balanced diet can Sofia help to improve your strength, energy levels and wellbeing. Sofia Bertolino, the Senior Clinical Dietitian at Cancer Centre London, explains how a dietitian service can benefit people living with cancer
How cancer can affect your diet
Reasons to see a dietitian
Cancer and the side effects of treatment can make it hard to get all the nutrients that your body needs. You may:
If you are living with cancer, there are many reasons to see a dietitian. They can:
• lose your appetite
• help you to understand the evidence and myths about diet and cancer
• be less able to eat certain foods
• support the treatment of specific cancers
• eat smaller portion sizes than before
• help you to manage the side effects of treatment, such as taste changes, nausea (feeling sick), diarrhoea, constipation, a sore mouth, difficulty in swallowing or a poor appetite
These issues can contribute to weight loss and low energy. Some cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, steroids and hormone therapies, can cause weight gain. If you feel very tired during cancer treatment, you may also be less active than usual and gain weight as a result.
The dietitian service at Cancer Centre London Cancer Centre London has a specialised dietitian service for people with cancer. The dietitian can give you advice to strengthen and support your body before, during and after cancer treatment. A balanced diet can help to prevent inflammation, improve your body’s defences and reduce the risk of cancer returning when your treatment is finished. The dietitian can work directly with your doctor and make sure that treatment is adapted to your needs.
• recommend a specific meal plan after treatment to reduce the risk of further cancer, rebuild your strength and aid recovery • prescribe dietary supplements and give you advice about them • support you if you have lost weight as a result of your diagnosis or treatment • help you if you want to lose weight in a safe and sensible way after treatment The dietitian carries out a nutritional assessment. They then prepare a personal nutrition care plan, which suits your medical needs and is based on up-to-date evidence. n To book an appointment with the dietitian at Cancer Centre London, please telephone 020 8247 3379. read more at darlingmagazine.co.uk spring 22
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