A leading cancer charity will offer nutrition lessons to patients across Great Britain after a trial showed the lessons help them overcome the nutritional challenges posed by the disease – and reduce waiting times on the NHS.
Many people with cancer find that the disease or their cure It changes the taste of their foodreduces their appetite or leads to weight loss.
Magee Cancer Centers have been counseling patients about food in partnership with the Royal Marsden NHS Trust in London since 2020.
It plans to expand its nutritional support to anyone attending its 27 centers in Great Britain amid growing awareness of how good nutrition can help cancer patients cope with and recover from the disease and the effects of chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Maggie’s centers in Manchester and Southampton also offer sessions, which often include cooking classes.
The workshops, led by a cancer nutritionist, help patients by debunking common myths about cancer and nutrition, such as that sugar “feeds” the disease and helps spread it, and that they should avoid dairy products.
Maggie Wyss Streeting is urging Health Secretary to ensure the government’s next cancer strategy encourages every NHS body in England to work with it after Marsden found that classes helped reduce waiting times to access its nutrition service.
Instead, patients who had previously faced delays of several months in attendance were referred to sessions instigated by Maggie, which brought together 10 to 15 people at a time, enabling those with more complex nutritional needs to be seen individually by Marsden staff.
Maggie 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: “Maggie’s group nutrition workshops help people with cancer to recognize fact from fiction, encouraging them to follow a healthy, balanced diet but ultimately empowering them to make the best decisions for their individual needs.”
In an appeal to Streeting – from He was treated for kidney cancer In 2021 – Lee added: “This approach… is a win-win: people with cancer get reliable and timely nutritional support, which is vital, while the NHS benefits from reduced waiting lists.”
The National Cancer Control Plan in England is due to be published on February 4, World Cancer Day.
“Cancer can turn eating and drinking into a daily struggle,” said Isobel Booth, head of health information at the World Cancer Research Fund. “When appetite and taste change, or eating becomes uncomfortable, people can lose weight and feel too tired to cope.”
“Many people experience significant changes in taste, mouth pain, or no appetite at all, while others need help finding ways to increase calories and protein to stay strong during treatment.”
She welcomed Maggi’s plans to expand nutrition and cooking sessions and bust myths. “Misinformation is everywhere, and when someone is undergoing cancer treatment or in recovery, it is very important to have the correct information.
“Placements with NHS dietitians are in high demand, so support from charitable services like this can be invaluable.” Booth added that 98% of those calling the World Cancer Research Fund’s Cancer and Nutrition Helpline found it made them more confident in managing their diet.
Streeting believes that charities can deliver some healthcare in a more patient-friendly way than the NHS. He cited Maggie as an example when speaking to the media afterwards Big 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 easier to approach. I think of Maggie’s Foundation… which supports people with cancer and their families, you walk in, and it’s warm and welcoming.”
“It doesn’t feel like you’re in a clinical service. They would never describe themselves as a service. Whenever you go to one, I think everyone should have that service, but I’m glad they’re providing it, not the state.”
Cally Palmer, chief executive of Marsden and a former cancer director at NHS England, said the nutrition and diet support service alongside Maggie’s service helped ensure “long-term healthy outcomes for patients”.
“We are delighted that it has now expanded to other Maggie’s centers to benefit cancer patients across the UK.”