Cancer charity to offer nutrition lessons to UK patients | Cancer
A leading cancer charity is to offer nutrition lessons to patients in the UK after a trial showed the lessons helped them overcome the nutritional challenges of the disease and cut NHS waiting times.
Many people with cancer are unable to recover from the disease or its treatment. changes the taste Spoilage of their food dulls their appetite or causes them to lose weight.
Maggie’s cancer centers have been providing food advice to patients in partnership with the Royal Marsden NHS cancer trust in London since 2020.
But due to growing awareness of how good nutrition can help cancer patients cope with and recover from the disease and the effects of chemotherapy or radiotherapy, it plans to expand dietary support to include participants at all 27 of its centers in England and Northern Ireland. Maggie’s centers in Manchester and Southampton also provide sessions that often include cooking classes.
Workshops run by a cancer specialist dietitian have also helped patients by debunking unproven but popular myths about cancer and nutrition, such as that sugar “feeds” the disease and helps spread it, and that they should avoid dairy products.
Maggie’s is calling on health secretary Wes Streeting to ensure the government’s upcoming new cancer strategy encourages all NHS trusts in England to collaborate with them after Marsden found the classes were helping to reduce waiting times to access its nutrition service.
Patients who had previously been delayed by several months in attending were instead referred to sessions initiated by Maggie, which brought together 10-15 people at a time and allowed those with more complex nutritional needs to be seen one-on-one by Marsden staff.
Maggie’s said: “Cancer treatments can affect appetite, tastes and nutritional needs, and many people worry about what they should and shouldn’t eat during and after treatment.
Laura Lee, chief executive of the charity, said: “Group nutrition workshops at Maggie’s help cancer patients sort fact from fiction, encouraging them to eat a healthy, balanced diet, but ultimately empowering them to make the best decisions for their individual needs.”
In a defense of Streeting – who was treated for kidney cancer In 2021 – Lee added: “This approach… is a win-win: cancer patients receive vital timely, reliable nutritional support while the NHS benefits from reduced waiting lists.”
The national cancer plan for England will be published on 4 February, which global cancer organizations have designated as World Cancer Day.
“Cancer can turn food and drink into a daily struggle. When appetite and taste change or eating becomes uncomfortable, people can lose weight and feel too tired to cope,” said Isobel Booth, head of health information at the World Cancer Research Fund.
“Many people experience major taste changes, mouth soreness, or no appetite at all, while others need help finding ways to increase calories and protein to stay strong during treatment.”
He welcomed Maggie’s plans to expand her nutrition, cooking and myth-busting sessions. “Misinformation is everywhere, and when someone is being treated for or recovering from cancer, it’s even more important to get it right.
“Booking appointments with NHS dietitians is in high demand, so support from outreach services like this can be invaluable.” Booth added that 98 percent of callers to WCRF’s cancer and nutrition hotline found that it made them more confident in managing their diet.
Streeting believes charities can deliver some healthcare services in a more patient-friendly way than the NHS. Speaking to the media afterwards, he cited Maggie as an example. an important speech Last year on health inequalities.
“The NHS should try to work in better partnership with charities. Sometimes charities are better placed to provide services and are more accessible. “I think of Maggie, who supports people with cancer and their families, you walk in, it’s warm and welcoming.
You don’t feel like you’re in the clinic. They never define themselves as a service. “Every time I go somewhere I think everyone should have this, but I’m glad they provide it and not the government.”
Cally Palmer, Marsden’s chief executive and former cancer director for NHS England, said Maggie, as well as the nutrition and diet support service, helped deliver “healthier long-term outcomes for patients”.
“We are delighted that it is now being expanded to other Maggie centers to benefit cancer patients across the UK.”
