The Christie Charity
If you are undergoing proton beam therapy for a type of head and neck cancer, you will be assessed by a dietitian. They will monitor your nutritional progress over the course of your treatment. You will be assessed before your treatment starts and as your treatment progresses.
Dietitians are core members of the head and neck team and have an essential role in assessing, managing and treating the nutritional problems that these cancers and their treatment cause.
Your dietitian will:
- advise the team on the best course of nutritional management along your treatment journey.
- provide you and your family/carers with practical dietary information, including suitable foods and the best textures for you to choose, portion sizes and meal patterns as your treatment progresses.
- provide you and your family/carers with support and guidance regarding nutrition support. This will include the use of special nutritional supplement drinks and tube feeding, if this is felt to be in your best interest.
- arrange local follow-up upon treatment completion.
The head and neck dietitian will be available Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and you will automatically be booked into clinic.
If you are already under the care of a dietitian or have a feeding tube in place, please let your key worker know.
If you are not under the care of the head and neck team, you can liaise with your key worker/specialist team if you have any concerns regarding your weight, appetite or dietary intake.