Royal United Hospitals Bath

Gynaecology: HICO

Nutrition

Nutrition - Dietetic support

What we do

We are specialists in nutrition during cancer and support people to help them eat well to support their bodies at any stage of the cancer pathway including rehabilitation. Our consultations are usually carried out over the phone, but video call or face to face consultations can be arranged. 

Why we can help you

When people are diagnosed with cancer it can bring about questions about nutrition and what they can do to support their health. There can be a lot of information available in books, in the media and online. Some of which can be helpful, and some can be confusing and maybe harmful. 

People who are diagnosed with a gynaecological cancer can experience symptoms such as fullness in their stomach, bloating and a reduced appetite and some of the side effects of cancer treatment can affect taste, appetite, and changes in bowel function. This can impact on how well you can eat and may lead to weight loss and reduction in muscle mass. There is lots of evidence that tells us that eating well, maintaining weight and activity levels during treatment can help people to cope with cancer treatment, support the immune system, improve recovery after surgery and maintain a good quality of life. 

How we can help you

We can help to decipher nutritional evidence and provide expert personalised guidance around diet and lifestyle to support your health. When people are struggling to eat due to symptoms of cancer or treatment side effects, we can provide nutritional counselling and tailored advice to help you manage your symptoms and improve your nutritional intake.

This could include practical advice on foods to choose, portion sizes, food shopping, cooking and recipe ideas. Dietitians also work closely with other members of a patient’s care team to provide effective and holistic care and can arrange prescriptions of oral nutritional supplements if required.

Useful information

The Diet and Cancer website has lots of information and video's to help manage symptoms which impact on your dietary intake for example coping with a small appetite, coping with taste changes, coping with a dry or sore mouth, coping with fatigue. Whilst these resources are written for people with cancer in general, they are still very relevant to people with gynaecological cancers. There is also information about eating a healthy diet with cancer and useful links to reputable websites.

FAQ's

(adapted from the WCRF website which has been reviewed and endorsed by the British Dietetic Association Oncology Specialist Dietitians)

Do I need to take dietary supplements during cancer treatment?

Dietary supplements are intended as a supplement to your daily diet and can contain one nutrient, such as vitamin C, or a combination, such as a multivitamin supplement. Dietary supplements come in the form of pills, powders, drops, capsules or drinks.

If you eat a healthy and varied diet, it is likely you will be getting enough vitamins and minerals from the food you eat. There can be risks if you take dietary supplements during treatment, as certain vitamin and mineral supplements can reduce the effect of radiation and chemotherapy.

We recommend that you only take supplements if you are deficient in a certain nutrient. If you think you may be low in a particular vitamin or mineral, it is best to speak to your doctor or dietitian. If a supplement is advised, it is best to choose one that contains up to 100% of the RNI (reference nutrient intake – the RNI tells you how much of a vitamin or mineral you need in a day). If you are planning on using certain dietary supplements during radiation or chemotherapy you should discuss this with your doctor and dietitian first.

Does sugar cause cancer growth?

People often ask if sugar feeds cancer, despite the bad press, the evidence does not support this. When we eat carbohydrates of any type the body breaks it down into its simplest form, glucose. All body cells require glucose for energy, including cancer cells. A low sugar diet will not stop cancer cells getting energy, If the body is starved of foods containing sugar cancer cells will find an alternative energy source and the body will breakdown protein and fat stores to make glucose.

There are benefits to limiting sugary food, and fast foods, which are often high in fat and salt. Replacing these foods with healthy alternatives can help you achieve a healthy balanced diet and help to maintain a healthy weight which is important for cancer prevention and our health overall.

If you have a poor appetite due to illness or treatment and have experienced unintentional weight loss, sugar can be useful to help you get enough calories to help you maintain a healthy weight.

Do I need to follow a specific diet?

You do not need to follow a specific diet when you have cancer unless you have been advised to by a Doctor or Dietitian. For most people the recommendation is to eat a healthy balanced diet if possible. This includes eating a diet which includes a variety of plant foods (fruits and vegetables, seeds, pulses and legumes), lean protein sources, and starchy carbohydrates including wholegrains.

People with cancer tend to need a slightly increased protein intake than the general population. Protein can be found in meats, fish, eggs, dairy and plant foods such as beans, peas and pulses, tofu, tempeh, soy products, Quorn and other meat substitutes.  

If you are losing weight, have a reduced appetite or feel very full quickly you may need to relax healthy eating practices and choose foods which are higher in calories and protein to prevent weight loss. Speak to your medical team if you need advice.