The Macmillan Oncology Specialist Dietitian service consists of three specialist Dietitians – Fiona Enright, Emma Cavalier and Melissa Gaunt – who provide support and advice to people affected by cancer who may have concerns about their nutrition, weight, eating and drinking.
The team can be contacted on telephone: 01274 364952.
Eating a variety of foods from all food groups is beneficial to overall health and wellbeing. This may aid tolerance to treatment and help you to cope with the symptoms and side-effects of cancer and cancer treatments. There are many diets, herbal medicines and dietary supplements that claim to cure cancer or slow its growth; however, there is no reliable scientific evidence to support this.
Some products may be harmful when taken during chemotherapy or radiotherapy because they can interfere with how these treatments work. It is important that you speak with your doctor or specialist nurse about any over-the-counter supplements—including vitamins and herbal supplements – you are taking or planning to take.
For people who are underweight, losing weight or at risk of losing weight, there is strong evidence that improving nutrition can benefit clinical outcomes, particularly around surgery, for example reducing risk of complications after surgery and promoting wound healing. Eating well can also improve your ability to be physically active, maintain your weight and improve your energy levels.
The Macmillan Oncology Dietitians can support you with tailored practical dietary advice and support from the point of diagnosis, during treatment and through to living with and beyond cancer. We can help if you:
- are experiencing weight loss
- are underweight
- are struggling with eating and drinking due to symptoms/ side-effects such as:
- poor appetite
- taste changes
- swallowing difficulties
- feeling full quickly
- dry or sore mouth
- changes in bowel habit, e.g. constipation or diarrhoea
- have questions about alternative diets.
