Three in five people with cancer will experience a nutrition impact symptom. Nutrition needs, risks and interventions vary with cancer type, treatment, and time-points in the cancer path. Your own learning needs can be enhanced through using The CanEAT pathway.
Read more about the full pathway: The CanEAT pathway for health professionals.
You can use the interactive resources available below to help guide you through the pathway.
Health professional CanEAT animation
Nutrition and cancer: are you looking for answers?
Sixty percent of people with cancer have a nutrition related issue. Good nutrition is important, especially when you have cancer.
Optimal nutrition is critical in preventing and treating malnutrition, sarcopenia and cachexia.
Nutritional needs will depend on:
- The type of cancer
- The treatment received
- Where the person with cancer is at on their cancer path
Regardless of where people are on their cancer path, view the following resources below for some general nutrition information and to help people with cancer and their carers get started on navigating their way around the CanEAT pathway.
- Nutrition and cancer postcard
- Nutrition and cancer general fact sheet
- Myth busting fact sheet – how do you tell fact from fiction? 12 nutrition and cancer myths busted
- CanEAT pathway cancer type factsheets for health professionals – these resources help you to understand what you need to know and what to expect when supporting people with cancer and their carers, based on individual cancer types.
- CanEAT pathway cancer type factsheets for patients and carers – these resources help people with cancer and their carers to understand what they need to know and what to expect for their individual cancer. TIP: Refer people with cancer and carers to “Nutrition and cancer: are you looking for answers?” on The CanEAT Pathway for patients webpage.
- Document toolkit for health professionals - these resources and templates can help you to provide optimal cancer nutrition care
How can I help people with cancer and their carers receive optimal nutrition care?
Optimal nutrition care requires a multidisciplinary team approach – as a dietitian, oncologist, GP, nurse, allied health professional or other health professional working in a hospital or community-based setting, the CanEAT pathway can help you deliver optimal nutrition care to your patients and their carers. Use the below resources and templates to help you.
Where is my patient in the cancer pathway (which step)?
Everyone’s cancer experience is different. The timing, or step of where people with cancer are in their cancer path can reveal a lot about likely nutritional needs, risks and possible nutrition care. Key transition points between each step are quite important and often mark a change in nutrition focus or where, and from whom people with cancer and their carers may receive their nutrition advice.
Are you seeking help with managing nutrition issues?
People with cancer may experience nutrition issues or side effects that can affect what and how they eat and drink. Nutrition issues can be caused by the cancer itself or from its treatments. Nutrition issues are likely to be different for everyone.
My patient doesn’t speak English – what nutrition information and resources are available?
Below is translated nutrition-related information in different languages. Ask the person with cancer if they have any cultural beliefs/practices about health and health care, such as fasting.
Cancer type fact sheets
Nutrition and cancer needs can vary between different cancer types. These resources help you to understand what you need to know and what to expect when supporting people with cancer and their carers, based on individual cancer types (see here for: cancer type fact sheets for patients and carers).
*new resource and/or coming soon