Freeman - How to eat well when you have cancer

In the UK there are many groups and charities who will reach out to you with extra information, along with the support and additional guidance you may need. Cancer is not something to go through on your own; there will be people available to talk to, meet up with and discuss the issues with. In addition, most groups have a range of booklets, as well as their own websites, which can be useful as reminders of particular concerns or sources of information about areas you might like to explore further.

Breast Cancer Haven

(London Haven)

Effie Road

London SW6 1TB

Tel.: 020 7384 0099

Website: www.breastcancerhaven.org.uk

There are also Havens in Hereford (01432 361061) and Leeds (0113 284 7829). All the Havens provide a wide range of therapies, completely free of charge, which help people to deal with the physical and emotional side effects of breast cancer. Specialist nurses and experts in nutrition, exercise and emotional support provide tailor-made programmes for every person who comes through their doors. Their outreach programme has been specially developed for people who cant get to Havens so they can benefit from the organizations unique care in the comfort of their own home.

British Dietetic Association (BDA)

Fifth Floor, Charles House

1489 Great Charles Street Queensway

Birmingham B3 3HT

Tel.: 0121 200 8080

Website: www.bda.uk.com

The BDA has a number of food fact sheets on its website which provide reviews on nutrition.

British Nutrition Foundation

High Holborn House

5254 High Holborn

London WC1V 6RQ

Tel.: 020 7404 6504

Website: www.nutrition.org.uk

The British Nutrition Foundation is a scientific charity which promotes the wellbeing of the population by the impartial interpretation and effective dissemination of nutrition knowledge and advice based on scientific evidence. It provides information on diet, nutrition and related health matters, and organizes scientific conferences and seminars; in addition, a range of scientific publications is produced, along with a regular newsletter, and resources for teachers.

Cancer Research UK

Angel Building

407 St John Street

London EC1V 4AD

Tel.: 020 7242 0200 (Switchboard); 0300 123 1022 (Supporter services)

Website: www.cancerresearchuk.org

The Healthy Living section of the website provides nutritional information.

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

1275 York Avenue

New York, NY 10065

Website: www.mskcc.org

The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center provides an excellent online nutrition search resource which provides an overview of the evidence for nutrition supplement and herb products.

Patients on Intravenous and Nasogastric Nutrition Therapy (PINNT)

PO Box 3126

Christchurch

Dorset BH23 2XS

Tel.: 01202 481625

Website: www.pinnt.com

Founded to help people who require intravenous or nasogastric feeding, and their families.

Penny Brohn Cancer Care

Chapel Pill Lane

Pill

Bristol BS20 0HH

Tel.: 01275 370100 (general); 0845 123 2310 (helpline)

Website: www.pennybrohncancercare.org

Offers a holistic approach to people with cancer. Nutritional help is provided on the website under the Our Therapies section.

World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF UK)

22 Bedford Square

LondonWC1B 3HH

Tel.: 020 7343 4205

Website: www.wcrf-uk.org

A charity dedicated to research around lifestyle and prevention of cancer. There are lots of great nutritional resources which can be ordered or downloaded from the cancer prevention section of the website.

Macmillan Cancer Support

89 Albert Embankment

London SE1 7UQ

Tel.: 020 7840 7840; information line: 0808 808 0000 (9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Friday)

Website: www.macmillan.org.uk

Marie Curie Cancer Care

Supporter Services Team

89 Albert Embankment

London SE1 7TP

Tel.: 020 7599 7777 (general); 0800 716 146 (free helpline, 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., Monday to Friday)

Website: www.mariecurie.org.uk

This organization provides free end-of-life care to those who are terminally ill, either at home or in one of their nine hospices. There are also head offices in Northern Ireland. Scotland and Wales (see below), all sharing the same website.

Marie Curie Cancer Care (Northern Ireland)

1a Kensington Road

Belfast BT5 6NF

Tel.: 028 9088 2032

Marie Curie Cancer Care (Scotland)

14 Links Place

Edinburgh EH6 3EB

Tel.: 0131 561 3900

Marie Curie Cancer Care (Wales)

Mamhilad House

Mamhilad Park Estate

Pontypool NP4 0HZ

Tel.: 01495 740818

Abbott Nutrition

Abbott House

Vanwall Business Park

Vanwall Road

Maidenhead

Berkshire SL6 4XE

Tel.: 01628 773355 (Switchboard); 0800 252 882 (Freephone Nutrition Helpline)

Website: www.abbottnutrition.co.uk

Supplies a wide variety of nutritional products and services, including the Ensure Plus range, to help people at risk of malnutrition because of eating difficulties. The website contains recipes.

Nutricia Ltd

White Horse Business Park

Newmarket Avenue

Trowbridge

Wiltshire BA14 0XQ

Tel.: 01225 711677 Website: www.nutricia.co.uk

This range of nutritional solutions is for use solely under the supervision of healthcare professionals.

Jane Freeman is a highly regarded dietitian and nutritionist with 20 years experience, whose focus is on helping people undergoing, or who have undergone, cancer treatment. She has been a senior cancer/clinical dietitian within a number of leading Australian public hospitals, a nutrition research manager and product manager with well-known food manufacturers in Australia, and has also lectured in oncology. Jane has worked with the World Cancer Research Fund UK (WCRF), a cancer charity that specializes in cancer prevention research and public health interventions. She wrote the WCRFs publication Eating Well and Being Active Following Cancer Treatment. More recently, Jane has been a consultant in Australia and the UK. She is often asked to provide comments in the media, and she has appeared on BBC Breakfast and other news programmes.

When we are well, most of us do not usually spend too much time thinking about the connection between eating and taking in the many food nutrients our body needs daily to keep it all ticking along and functioning well, never mind managing the many extra tasks that take a fair bit of effort and energy, including thinking, breathing, moving, warding off bugs and infections, breaking down the food, converting it into a form the body can use like petrol, rebuilding and repairing cells, getting rid of waste products and so much more!