A leading cancer charity will offer nutrition lessons to patients across Great Britain after a trial showed the classes help them to negotiate the disease’s dietary challenges – and cut NHS waiting times.
Many people with cancer find that the disease or their treatment changes the taste of their food, dulls their appetite or leads to them losing weight.
Maggie’s cancer centres have been advising patients about food in a partnership with the Royal Marsden NHS foundation trust in London since 2020.
It plans to extend its dietary support to anyone attending its 27 centres 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 centres in Manchester and Southampton also provide sessions, which often include cookery classes.
The workshops – led by a cancer specialist dietitian – help patients by debunking popular myths about cancer and nutrition, such as that sugar “feeds” and helps spread the disease and that they should avoid dairy products.
Maggie’s is urging Wes Streeting, the health secretary, to ensure the government’s forthcoming cancer strategy encourages every NHS trust in England to collaborate with it after the Marsden found that the classes helped reduce waiting times to access its own nutrition service.
Patients who previously faced a delay of several months to attend were instead referred to the sessions Maggie’s instigated, which brought together 10-15 people at a time, which enabled those with more complex nutritional needs to be seen one-to-one by Marsden staff.
Maggie’s said: “Cancer treatments can impact appetite, tastes and nutritional needs and many people worry about what they should and shouldn’t be eating during treatment and beyond.
“Group nutritional workshops at Maggie’s help people with cancer identify fact from fiction, encouraging them to follow a healthy, balanced diet but ultimately empowering them to make the best decisions for their individual needs,” said Laura Lee, the charity’s chief executive.
In a plea to Streeting – who was treated for kidney cancer in 2021 – Lee added: “This approach … is a win-win: people with cancer get timely, trusted nutrition support, which is vital, while the NHS benefits from reduced waiting lists.”
The national cancer plan for England is due to be published on 4 February, which is 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, sore mouths or no appetite at all, while others need help finding ways to increase calories and protein to stay strong during treatment.”
She welcomed Maggie’s plans to expand its nutrition, cookery and myth-busting sessions. “Misinformation is everywhere and when someone is going through cancer treatment or in recovery it’s even more important to get it right.
“Appointment with NHS dieticians are in high demand, so support from charity services like these can be invaluable.” Booth added that 98% of callers to the World Cancer Research Fund’s cancer and nutrition helpline found it made them more confident managing their diet.
Streeting believes charities can provide some healthcare in a more patient-friendly way than the NHS. He cited Maggie’s as an example when talking to the media after a major speech last year on health inequalities.
“The NHS should try to work in partnership better with charities. Sometimes, charities are better placed to deliver services and are more approachable. I think about Maggie’s … that supports people with cancer and their families, you go in, it’s warm, it’s welcoming.
“You don’t feel like you are in a clinical service. They would never describe themselves as a service. And whenever I go into one I think everyone should have this, but I’m glad they’re providing it, not the state.”
Cally Palmer, the Marsden’s chief executive and a former NHS England cancer director, said its nutritional and diet support service alongside Maggie’s had helped ensure “healthier long-term outcomes form patients.
“We are delighted that it will now be extended to other Maggie’s centres to benefit cancer patients across the UK.”
