Cancer Survival And Nutrition: Researchers Look At Food And The Future

Researchers are still trying to determine just how much nutrition and other related environmental factors play a role in the cause of cancer. The same is also true for cancer survivors who are trying to find reliable nutrition to help them enhance their quality of life, prevent future relapses and the outlook for future survival.

Researchers at Bournemouth University (BU) led by Dr. Jane Murphy are working with cancer nurse specialists to find out what specific foods and vitamins might be right for certain patients. By developing an e-learning tool for healthcare professionals, the team has now created an innovative way of educating and empowering frontline staff to deliver reliable and helpful information about nutrition. The tool provides staff with various evidence that's based on nutritional information that helps cancer survivors thrive on an individual treatment plan.

However, researchers stressed that the tool can be used by others besides just cancer patients, and is delivered in bite-sized chunks and interactive sessions that are helpful for the individual.

"The tool was not specifically designed for people who have had a cancer diagnosis, although cancer survivors themselves can still use it and benefit from it; it was made with healthcare professionals in mind," noted lead study author Dr. Jane Murphy of Bournemouth University, in a news release. 

A thematic analysis helped develop the tool, along with focus groups made up of practice nurses, cancer nurse specialists, nurtiotnists, GPs and recovered cancer patients.

"There is a lot of misinformation out there around food and nutrition. For cancer survivors, it is fair to say that there is a lot of information available, but is it correct? Can it improve health and wellbeing and give the best chance of survival? Dr. Murphy added.

"For instance, it is very easy to find the wrong sorts of information through the internet. This was another reason to develop an online tool, working in partnership with Macmillan that uses really robust and accurate evidence.

"There is a lot of misinformation out there around food and nutrition. For cancer survivors, it is fair to say that there is a lot of information available, but is it correct? Can it improve health and wellbeing and give the best chance of survival?"

The researchers next emphasis is to study the complex needs of certain neurodegenerative disorders, including patients with dementia who may require specialized home care.

More information regarding the evaluation of the e-learning tool can be found in Nurse Education Today.

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