Diet and Cancer

One in three people are affected by cancer during their lifetime. A cancer diagnosis affects an individual in many different ways, depending on the type and location of the cancer. Diet plays a vital part in both preventing and coping with cancer.

Eating well to reduce risk of developing cancer

On 1 November 2007, the World Cancer Research Fund released its recommendations for how to prevent cancer. The key points are as follows:

Be as lean as possible without becoming underweight
Be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day
Avoid sugary drinks. Limit consumption of energy-dense foods (particularly processed foods high in added sugar, or low in fibre, or high in fat)
Eat more of a variety of vegetables, fruits, wholegrains and pulses such as beans
Limit consumption of red meats (such as beef, pork and lamb) and avoid processed meats
If consumed at all, limit alcoholic drinks to two for men and one for women a day
Limit consumption of salty foods and food processed with salt (sodium)
 
Eating well with cancer

It is essential that a person with cancer eats as healthy a diet as possible, as this will help them cope with their illness and their treatment. Unfortunately, dietary problems frequently occur at all stages of a person’s cancer pathway. Common problems affecting a person’s food intake include:

Fatigue
Poor appetite
Feeling full quickly
Weight loss
Taste changes
Physical problems as a result of the cancer or treatment e.g sore throat, oral thrush, nausea, vomiting etc.
Emotional problems e.g. stress, anxiety, depression
 
A dietitian is able to provide a patient with individual dietary advice and coping strategies to help combat the above problems.

Dietetic service:

A Macmillan Dietitian works full time for Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust. Dietary advice is offered to any patient who finds that their illness is affecting their oral intake. This dietitian will see patients who are undergoing  cancer treatment. The majority of people seen need advice on how to boost their oral intake and help them to maintain their nutritional status during their cancer treatment.

Useful Websites

Cancer Back up – www.cancerbackup.org.uk

Cancerbackup's mission is to give cancer patients and their families the up-to-date information, practical advice and support they need to reduce the fear and uncertainty of cancer.This website provides informaiton about diet and cancer prevention as well as what to each if you have cancer.

Cancer Research UK – www.cancerresearchuk.org

This charity focuses on cancer research. The website provides information on both cancer prevention and eating well when you have cancer

World Cancer Research Fund - www.wcrf-uk.org

This organisation provides information on the importance of diet in relation to cancer prevention