Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2006; 11: 09–10
The aim of this study was to determine the amount and type of dietary and nutritional advice offered to cancer patients by healthcare teams.
Two surveys were conducted, one of cancer self-help and support groups users (Support Group Survey) and one of users of the Bristol Cancer Help Centre (Bristol Survey). Responses were received from 1288 cancer self-help and support group users, and 358 Bristol Cancer Help Centre past users.
Most participants of both surveys said that they would have liked more information on healthy eating than they received. The Support Group Survey showed that the majority of people with cancer were not given dietary advice by a member of their health-care team when diagnosed and were not directed elsewhere for this information. Furthermore, the majority said they experienced weight changes, with only a small proportion being given information from their healthcare teams on how to achieve a healthy weight.
The majority of cancer patients that took part in this survey were not offered dietary or nutritional advice by a member of their healthcare team.
This survey was funded by the Bristol Cancer Help Centre.
