Irish cancer patients and survivors have a positive view of the role of nutritional care in cancer management from diagnosis through survivorship.

BACKGROUND

Nutrition is an important aspect of care in the management of cancer at all stages from diagnosis to survivorship. There is currently little data available on the views of those with cancer regarding the importance of nutrition throughout the cancer journey.

AIM

To identify the views of those with cancer regarding the importance of nutrition in ten different situations or cancer stages.

METHODS

A questionnaire containing demographic information and one question utilising a 5-point Likert scale around the importance of nutrition in relation to ten different cancer stages or patient types was circulated through the oncology day wards and outpatient departments in two hospitals in the North West of Ireland. We received 197 complete responses.

RESULTS

Nutritional care was viewed positively with 88.8 to 98.5% agreeing or strongly agreeing that nutritional care is important for everyone independent of their weight or cancer treatment; when you are receiving any form of active treatment for cancer; when you require surgery for cancer; when you require chemotherapy for cancer; when you require radiotherapy for cancer; when you are in the advanced stages of cancer; when you are a cancer survivor; when you have a low body weight; when you have a normal body weight; and when you are overweight.

DISCUSSION

Irish cancer patients and survivors have a positive view of the role of nutritional care in cancer from diagnosis through cancer survivorship. It is important that services are put in place to provide this nutritional care at all stages of cancer.