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The Role of the Dietitian in Cancer Care
Food and eating are an enjoyable and social part of everyday life. Nutrition is the process of nourishing or being nourished and is essential for living. Cancer and its treatment can affect your appetite or ability to eat your usual meals.
Dietitians will:
Assess your nutritional needs and gain an understanding of your lifestyle, food preferences and eating pattern.
Use the knowledge of nutrition, health, disease, cancer and its treatment to provide practical advice that will help you to eat and maintain your quality of life. This may include recommending:
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Enriching your meals and drinks with extra calories and protein to help prevent weight loss or overcome a small appetite
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Adapting the texture of your foods when your mouth is sore or you have problems swallowing or chewing
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Nourishing drinks or prescribable supplements for the treatment of malnutrition, weight loss and swallowing problems
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Altering the flavour of your food to cope with taste changes
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Food safety advice to prevent avoidable infections
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Adjusting your intake of dietary fibre and fluids to promote normal bowel function
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Artificial feeding (nutritious liquid through a tube) when you are not able to eat enough
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Modifying complex dietary regimens used in the management of other diseases such as Coeliac disease, Diabetes, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, food intolerances
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Calcium rich foods to maintain bone health
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Weight management and healthy eating when you are well
Support you in making informed choices regarding healthy lifestyles.
Work with you and your family, monitoring your progress and adjusting the advice as your needs change.
Liaise with the other healthcare professionals who are involved in your care.
Please refer to the ‘Head and Neck Dietitian’ and ‘Upper GI Dietitian’ pages for more information on these specific cancer sites.
Introduction