Cancer patients may need obesity advice
Tuesday November 8th, 2011
People with cancer - or its early signs - should be given advice about their weight if they are obese, researchers warned today.
Obesity is especially linked to bowel cancer - but a study reported to a major UK conference today found clinicians reluctant to discuss it with patients diagnosed with the disease.
The Dundee researchers suggest advice in diet and exercise could be given to people who go through bowel cancer screening and are found to have pre-cancerous polyps.
They are reporting their findings at the conference of the National Cancer Research Institute in Liverpool, UK.
They say they found that bowel cancer patients were confused about the benefits of a healthier lifestyle - as they had "very little guidance" on the issue after treatment for the disease.
And health care professionals reported feeling "uncomfortable" about discussing the issue - and felt it was not their role.
Researcher Professor Annie Anderson said: "Our results show we’re missing key opportunities to provide crucial information to the people who need it most.
"Obesity is having a huge impact on cancer incidence worldwide. If we are to tackle the rising cancer incidence, we must do all we can to combat obesity.
“Cancer doctors and nurses need better training in how to approach this sensitive subject. And for patients, who have already been treated for bowel cancer and are overweight, the slate needs to be wiped and they should be advised and supported to eat a healthy diet and take regular exercise – to stack the odds against the cancer returning."
Institute director Dr Jane Cope said: ""Scientists estimate that in the UK, the current number of people who are overweight and obese could lead to around 19,000 cases of cancer a year.
"So this is an important area of research and health care professionals should consider whether they can be more proactive in offering advice.”
Tags: Cancer | Diet & Food | Fitness | Gastroenterology | Internal Medicine | UK News
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