- A dietitian or clinical nutritionist is a health professional who is qualified to give specific advice and recommendations on diets that promote well-being and recovery from disease.
- Dietitians use their knowledge of food, nutrition, health and disease to develop individualised nutritional care plans for clients.
- Nutrition recommendations are based on scientific studies and evidence-based practice.
- The professional body for governance of clinical nutritionists and dietitians in Ireland is the Irish Nutrition & Dietetic Institute (INDI).
The dietitian's role during cancer treatment
- Dietitians ensure optimum nutrition for patients undergoing or recovering from cancer treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
- For people with cancer, good nutrition and food intake can improve tolerance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and also improve their quality of life.
Dietetic services during cancer treatment include
- Assessment and education regarding special diets.
- Management of side effects from treatment.
- Management of tube feeding.
- Nutrition education for patients, families and carers.
- Information on nutrition and diet for cancer support groups.
- Advice on emerging diet therapies and potential benefits or harmful effects from these diets.
Click the links above for more information
Many patients experience “dysphagia” – a change or difficulty in swallowing whilst on certain types of radiation treatment.
This means you may be advised to change the texture of your foods to make it easier and safer to swallow. This is called a “Modified diet”
Types of modified diets include:
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Soft diets
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Minced and moist diets
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Puréed diets
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Liquidised diets
You may also be advised to only drink liquids that are thickened.
Thickened liquids are often easier to swallow as they “go down” the throat more slowly, allowing time for them to be swallowed into the “food pipe” (oesophagus) rather than spilling quickly into the windpipe.
You might see these diets being referred to as a numbered “level” – this is an international system of grading diets so that everyone knows the exact diet you have been advised to eat / drink.
Your Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) will advise you on the safest diet level.
Your Dietitian will then advise you on nourishing foods to eat within this type of diet.
There is lots of information and recipe books available to help you eat and drink well on your new diet level.
Click the links below to explore your level:
There are lots of great videos to help you care for your feeding tube
a PEG Y adapter (top of the tube)
Diet in recovery can vary from patient to patient
You may have lost weight during treatment and so may need to continue on a high protein, high energy diet to help recover and gain weight.
You may have managed treatment very well and now need to focus on survivorship and future cancer prevention.
Your Dietitian will advise you on which diet you need to follow after treatment
Click the links below for excellent recipes and advice or ask your dietitian for a hard copy
High Protein, High Energy Cookbook
Healthy Eating Cookbook
General Healthy Lifestyle Advice
Referrals to the Dietitian in St. Luke’s are made by the medical and nursing team.
If you have concerns about your eating, drinking or are experiencing any weight changes whilst on treatment then please speak with a member of your medical team.
If you are finished your treatment, you can access community dietitians in your area via your GP
Private dietitians are available nationwide.
To find out more:
Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute indi.ie
Self Employed Dietitians Ireland sedi.ie
