Food and Cancer
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FOOD AND CANCER – WHAT’S THE DEAL? An expert nutrition guide brought to you by Trekstock, Dr Hazel Wallace & Friends Navigating all the information around diet and cancer can be overwhelming. There’s a lot of confusing stuff out there and we know you probably don’t have the time or energy to digest it all. So we’ve created this guide to everything you might be asking about how what you put into your body affects it during CONTENTS treatment and beyond. FOREWORD 4 We’ve included the latest research CONTRIBUTORS 6 and unpacked controversial topics HOW FOOD SUPPORTS in a balanced way offering you all RECOVERY 8 the information you need to make LET’S TALK ABOUT... 16 decisions that work for you. FOOD PREP MADE EASY 26 RECIPES 31 SIGNPOSTING 39 KEY Important Note Reminder 2 TREKSTOCK FOOD AND CANCER – WHAT’S THE DEAL? 3 FOREWORD by Dr Hazel Wallace You never expect to get diagnosed with cancer, let alone I promise this is not another prescription and we invite when you’re in your 20s or 30s. When it does happen, it you to dip in and out of it whenever you feel the need understandably shakes every aspect of your world. You to. Remember, dealing with cancer is enough pressure don’t need me to tell you how much of a shock a cancer for anyone, so try to be as kind as possible to yourself diagnosis can be, how hard treatments are, how difficult when you’re thinking about what to eat. Food should be recovery can be, or how much it can change the way you a pleasure as well as something to fuel your body with, so feel about yourself and your body. Finding some sense of enjoy what you’re eating when you can, and don’t beat normality is key at such a turbulent time. yourself up if you’re not eating what you think you ‘should’. If there’s one thing that remains totally constant I hope you find this resource, and some of the further notes throughout your treatment and recovery, it’s the need to we’ve included in the back, empowering and helpful. give your body the support necessary to deal with all of the treatments and stresses that are being thrown at you. Happy eating, Food can play an important role here. But the internet, and of course social media, is the modern-day equivalent of the Wild, Wild West – full of misinformation, dubious claims, and conflicting advice. When we asked, 45% of you said that social media makes you confused about what to eat. Dr Hazel Wallace @TheFoodMedic So, how do you know what to trust and what to listen to? It’s a minefield, but hopefully, we can help with that. When I came on board as a Trekstock Ambassador, I realised there was a need for a nutrition resource that was available specifically for people going through cancer treatment and recovery. So Trekstock and I brought together a group of doctors, dietitians, patients, and members of the Trekstock community to create a no nonsense, evidence-based, and easy-to-follow nutrition booklet to help support you. 4 TREKSTOCK FOOD AND CANCER – WHAT’S THE DEAL? 5 CONTRIBUTORS ENJOY DIPPING IN Dani Binnington Camilla Ferraro Dr Ailsa Sita Lumsden Think of this as a handbook you Founder of Registered Dietitian Consultant Medical can dip in and out of when you need it. HealthyWholeMe, (RD): Oncology + Oncologist, Guys and We recognise in the early days of a cancer diagnosed with breast Surgical Nutrition St Thomas’ Hospital cancer in her 30s and (NHS), Women’s Health – Having worked in diagnosis you’re bombarded with information passionate about + Eating Disorders. Oncology for 10 years from everywhere (and everyone!) on what to eat, how food helped Ailsa is committed to what not to eat, when to eat and how to eat. her recovery. improving knowledge and access to support for young people We’re not here to add to that pressure. We want to with cancer. make your life easier, so we aim to provide you with Alice May Purkiss the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions Copywriter around diet and cancer, based on the latest research. Sarah Dixon extraordinaire and You know your body better than anyone else, so a lot of Trekstock Young Adult author of Life, Lemons Ambassador, diagnosed and Melons diagnosed this will be about guiding you to support your intuition. with Breast in her 30s, with breast cancer in Dr Hazel Wallace passionate about food her 20s. Medical Doctor No matter where you are with your diagnosis – and how it helped (BSc, MBBCh, MSc) whether it was last week and you’re trying to figure her recovery. and founder of the food medic. out which way is up, or it was three years ago and you’re keen to find your new normal – we know how important it is to learn to trust your body again. Monika Siemicka Senior Specialist We hope you find this booklet empowers you Haematology and TYA and gives you the helping hand you need to Dietitian at Guys and St Thomas’s Hospital. make simple changes that suit you and your lifestyle. Food is a great tool for Jemima Reynolds doing just that. Health Programmes Lead for Trekstock For more information about anything you’ve read in the booklet, or to find out how Trekstock can support you, please get in touch at [email protected]. 6 TREKSTOCK FOOD AND CANCER – WHAT’S THE DEAL? 7 Section 1 Just been diagnosed? So if you’re considering going vegan because you read it’ll reduce your We know this isn’t a club you ever risk of cancer returning, or if you’re HOW FOOD SUPPORTS wanted to be part of. But we’re here desperate to know how to combine to help you make sense of some of a new lifestyle with a balanced diet, RECOVERY the trickier parts of this section of we’ve got you. your life. Why is food so important? Those early days of cancer are A few years down the A healthy, balanced diet provides all the nutrients we need a whirlwind where it’s hard to line but keen to know to support our body’s functions. Bodies do amazing things remember who you are, let alone more about looking what on earth you’re doing with every day but we need to give them the right tools to help yourself. Food can be a great after yourself? them do that, especially if they’re being put through their place to reconnect with your body Cancer changes things. And it keeps paces elsewhere. and look after yourself at what’s changing things long after treatment otherwise a pretty turbulent time is over. No matter how long it is since Good nutrition during and beyond Important: (understatement of the year). your diagnosis, we know there’s a chance you still have questions. So cancer treatment can help us to Despite what you might have maintain a healthy weight, retain Whether you’re looking for guidance with research changing all the time, read in the darkest depths of on what to eat to aid your recovery we’ve pulled together information to muscle mass and strength and the internet, no one ‘food’ or ‘dietary decrease overall side effects. from surgery or what you might be help you continue on with your happy pattern’ directly causes (or cures!) able to tolerate during chemo, we and healthy lifestyle on your terms. cancer so there’s no need to be overly want to help. But cancer itself and cancer restrictive with your diet. treatments can make it harder to ‘First things first. eat a healthy diet due to changes Food is about so much more than Recently finished treatment in your taste, smell or ability to just nutrition – it provides enjoyment and trying to find that Dealing with the absorb nutrients. while sharing food with others is elusive ‘new normal’? side effects of crucial for our social health too. So During treatment it’s super try not to get so bogged down in the Finishing treatment can be an ordeal treatment is hard important that you’re giving nutritional nitty gritty at the expense in itself. It can be a time that’s rife with yourself the right amount of enjoying the food you eat. uncertainty and anxiety, among all the enough, let alone of protein and calories to prevent other challenges that you’re facing. malnutrition, and to allow your body coping with changes to recover and heal. Should I change my diet? During times of stress, eating well to your body image You certainly don’t have to but we can be something that suffers. But would always encourage you to retain working out the best ways to look too – remember to be or adopt as many healthy eating after yourself is absolutely crucial. habits as you can, during treatment or And science says that the emotional kind to yourself.’ beyond. If you are considering making and mental benefits of cooking are Alice May Purkiss any changes, then we’re here to help multiple. It’s a way to channel energy guide you through the ‘facts’ and into something positive, a useful dispel the ‘faff’ when it comes to diet distraction and a way to express and cancer. emotions through a different medium. 8 TREKSTOCK FOOD AND CANCER – WHAT’S THE DEAL? 9 I’m not hungry and I’m Sometimes nourishing drinks are an SO WHAT SHOULD I EAT? easier way to get what you need.