Publications

Cancer and Nutrition report

Download a copy of our report on cancer and nutrition activities in the UK. The report details our work to date, including results from our patient experience survey, a survey of clinicians and a mapping of cancer and nutrition research in the UK from the previous five years.

Summary report

Full report

The provision of nutritional advice and care for cancer patients: a UK national survey of healthcare professionals

People living with and beyond cancer often experience nutrition-related issues and should receive appropriate advice on nutrition that is consistent and evidence based. The aim of this study was to investigate current practice for the provision of nutritional care by healthcare professionals (HCPs) from a UK national survey produced by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Cancer and Nutrition Collaboration.

There were 610 HCPs who responded including nurses (31%), dietitians (25%), doctors (31%) and speech and language therapists (9%). The majority of HCPs discusses nutrition (94%) and provide information on nutrition (77%). However, only 39% of HCPs reported being aware of nutritional guidelines, and just 20% were completely confident in providing nutritional advice. Whilst HCPs discuss nutrition with cancer patients and may provide information, many lack an awareness of guidelines and confidence in providing nutritional advice. To ensure consistency of practice and improvements in patient care, there is scope for enhancing the provision of appropriate nutrition education and training.

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Prevention of cancer and cancer recurrence through weight control – where are we in 2020?

Our Population Health work stream has recently published two papers on the role of obesity in cancer prevention and survivorship in the British Journal of Cancer. Work stream Chair Professor Annie Anderson says: “Whilst much has been written about obesity and cancer the evidence on the impact of how intentional weight loss impact on cancer risk reduction and cancer survivorship remains an area of discovery. As the world gains weight and cancer incidence increases it is timely to ensure that the impact of change in body weight and body composition are high in our research agenda”.

Read the articles here:

Cancer prevention through weight control – where are we in 2020?

Cancer survivorship and excess body fatness – where are we in 2020?