This booklet for patients and carers describes pancreatic cancer, its causes and symptoms. It gives detailed information on the diagnostic tests used and the stages of pancreatic cancer. It includes a section on what to ask your doctor, where to go for further information and a glossary to explain many of the terms used.
This booklet contains information about how pancreatic cancer can affect your diet and nutrition. Provides information on managing dietary symptoms such as malabsorption, enzyme replacement, poor appetite, weight loss and managing diarrhoea. Contains a section about dietary supplements and information about diabetes and diet.
A dietitian is an expert in nutrition. Dietitians are the only qualified health professionals that assess, diagnose and treat diet and nutrition problems.
Registered dietitians are regulated by the HCPC (Health Care Professionals Council). They will be able to give you advice on how to cope with nutrition problems or eating difficulties. This advice may include the use of pancreatic enzymes and nutritional supplements.
Dietitians are a key member of the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) in hospitals that treat patients with pancreatic cancer. They also work in the community. If you are not currently seeing a dietitian and think you may benefit from seeing one, ask your medical team or your GP to refer you.
Dietitians and nutritionists may seem like similar roles, but it is important that you seek information and advice from a dietitian. These are the only health care professionals who are able to give dietary advice to people suffering from an acute illness such as pancreatic cancer.
Dietitians can recommend supplements and other medications to manage your condition. A nutritionist generally works in nonclinical settings, outside of hospitals or GP Practices to advise people, who are medically well, about what makes a healthy diet. While they may be able to offer you some good advice, they are not in the same position as a dietitian, who is able to offer ways of maintaining or gaining weight specific to your pancreatic cancer.
Following the advice of a dietitian is the best way to make sure that you feed your body correctly when you have pancreatic cancer.
You may read or hear about diets that can treat cancer, but these have not been researched fully, and do not have enough scientific evidence to prove their effect, making them unreliable. Therefore, they are not recommended by Dietitians.
The information provided in this site, or through links to other websites, is not a substitute for medical or professional care and should not be relied upon as such. Read our disclaimer.
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| Information Product № | Published | 15/10/2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last Updated | 21/04/2022 | Next Review Due | 21/04/2025 |