Should I see a Dietitian?

There are several nutritional implications that often occur when suffering with cancer. Cancer can speed up your metabolic rate, which means you will have increased requirements for food and energy. However, the physical effects of cancer and treatment (such as vomiting, nausea, dysphagia and pain) may affect your ability to eat certain foods or hinder nutrient absorption. The psychological effects of being diagnosed with cancer can also impair your appetite.

If you are experiencing weight loss, low energy levels or generally unsure if you are meeting your nutritional requirements then a visit to a Dietitian will be very helpful. Different cancers have different effects on everyone, so our registered Dietitians can assess your individual nutritional and energy levels and provide tailored nutritional support and advise where improvements can be made.

We will also work with other members of the multi- disciplinary team involved in your care to ensure that all aspects of your treatment and health are considered. The overall focus of treatment with our Dietitians is to ensure optimal nutrition and energy, and to minimise the nutritional consequences of the symptoms and side-effects of treatment.

How Can Spectrum Nutrition Help?

Your first appointment will involve a dietary assessment which will explore your eating patterns, an assessment of your nutritional intake and dietary habits, exercise and lifestyle habits, medical history, medications, treatment and symptom history. This will give the dietitian all the information needed to devise a plan for you that will ensure that your nutritional and hydration needs are being met. Often your diet will need to be fortified with energy and nutrients to prevent weight loss and improve response to treatment.

During the course of your treatment it is important that you eat well to:

• Aid recovery and healing
• Maintain your weight
• Tolerate the chemo or radiotherapy
• Help you fight infection
• Repair damaged tissue
• Maintain your strength and energy

Your Dietitian will also carry out a complete nutritional assessment, taking a diet history, body composition analysis including weight, BMI, waist circumference, body fat percentage, lean body mass, waist to hip measurement and more.

Our Fees

Our Locations

We provide online consultations no matter where you are based.

Booking Your Appointment

To book your appointment please complete the below form or phone our patient services team, available Monday – Friday between 9am – 5pm, and Saturdays between 8:00am – 4:00pm. If your enquiry is urgent please phone the team at 01-6111740 and they will be able to assist you.