Free Cancer Nutrition Packages for Cancer Patients
Star Throwers Cancer Support Charity is to start offering free Cancer Nutritional Care Packages thanks to generous grants from The National Lottery Community Fund and the Aviva Community Fund.
These free individually tailored cancer nutrition packages will be offered to those who have received a cancer diagnosis or are recovering from cancer and have benefitted from the charity’s current nutrition support sessions. Star Throwers currently offer talks, one-to-one sessions, and group Q&A sessions on cancer nutrition with an experienced and registered Nutritional Therapist who has been working with the charity for the past 5 years.
The team at Star Throwers worked with patients who had attended nutritional support sessions with the charity and consulted with them on the items to be included and what they have found beneficial to them to enable them to make positive nutritional changes. The items are intended to be used with the new ‘Star Throwers – Recipe Booklet’ which has been put together by the Nutritionist, Edwina Green – containing recipes based around the Mediterranean style diet, which is anti-inflammatory, colourful, flavourful, and rich in plant-based foods.
One of the service users, Aisha Alley, who helped with discussions on items, said of the nutritional service:
“I was also introduced to Edwina, the Nutritionist, who was so helpful and lovely to talk to. I really appreciated the personalised written report that she provided me with at the end of our meeting as I was able to refer back to it. (I make sure I have a side portion of cruciferous vegetables every evening!!). I found the nutritional service so informative. Edwina tailored her support around my personal concerns. She explained the risks of certain food groups, in particular sugary foods. We all know sugar is bad but it was interesting to understand that cancer can use sugar as fuel. I think it is important for cancer patients to have access to this service so that they can make informed lifestyle choices.”
The nutritional care packages contain over £100 worth of items tailored to each individual’s nutritional requirements which have been recommended by the Nutritional Therapist. The items included in the package:
The items have been chosen with the patient and the environment in mind, sourcing local and reusable items where possible. Several items have been sourced locally with the lavender wheat bags from Norfolk Lavender, the oils from Yare Valley Oils and the herbs/spices and nuts from Reno Refills.
The packages will help start the patient on their ‘nutritional journey’ – providing a positive boost and focus for them at the time of a cancer diagnosis and in taking their next steps. Making simple nutritional changes means that those affected by cancer can take back some control over their lives at a time when they have to passively accept and endure multiple treatments.
We hope that by providing these nutritional care packages we are enabling our service users to continue to develop an interest in nutrition and its benefits in supporting themselves at a time of a cancer diagnosis and beyond. The care packages will be provided and delivered free of charge, limiting any financial burden that implementing initial nutritional changes might incur.
What is Nutritional Support/Therapy?
Nutritional therapy is the application of nutrition science in the promotion of health, peak performance, and individual care. A Nutritional Therapist will use a wide range of tools to assess and identify potential nutritional imbalances and understand how these may contribute to an individual’s symptoms and health concerns.
Nutritional therapy is a complementary medicine. It is recognised by the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), the UK’s independent and voluntary register of complementary healthcare practitioners.
Why is Nutritional Support/Therapy is so important right now?
Increasingly individuals with a cancer diagnosis are exploring complementary medicine as an addition to their traditional oncology treatment. Nutrition is particularly powerful since it is within the reach of every individual to make positive dietary changes. While nutrition can be empowering, it can also be overwhelming. As a Nutritional Therapist, Edwina helps to guide patients through the minefield of information and scientific evidence, in order to provide personalised advice on achievable and beneficial dietary changes, whether the goal is cancer prevention, support through a cancer diagnosis, or optimising remission.
Who is our Nutritional Therapist?
Edwina Green is a registered Nutritional Therapist with British Association for Nutritional and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT) and is also registered with the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC). Edwina is fully insured through Balens.
In 2020, Edwina completed a MSc in Personalised Nutrition awarded by Middlesex University (London) in collaboration with the Centre for Nutritional Education and Lifestyle Management (CNELM). This built on her Naturopathic Nutrition Diploma from the College of Naturopathic Medicine (CNM) in London. All Edwina’s educational training is founded within the Functional Medicine approach to health.
Edwina has a long-standing interest in diet and its role in supporting individuals with a cancer diagnosis. She has completed Cancer Nutritional Therapy training with Penny Brohn UK and is a member of a Nutritional Therapy mentor programme focusing on breast cancer. She has volunteered at Star Throwers since 2015, providing regular nutrition talks as well as one-to-one nutrition consultations.
To find out more about the nutritional, information and wellbeing support services that Star Throwers provides to cancer patients and carers visit: www.starthrowers.org.uk, call: 01953 423304 or email: info@starthrowers.org.uk
Contact: Heather McKenna, Services Manager
01953 423304 or email heather@starthrowers.org.uk
Sara White, Fundraising Administrator
01953 423304 or email sara@starthrowers.org.uk
About Star Throwers
Star Throwers is a cancer support charity based in Wymondham, Norfolk dedicated to helping people affected by cancer. We support individuals to make informed decisions about their treatment options, including alternative treatments, and help them search for clinical trials when appropriate. We also offer complementary therapies, counselling, nutritional advice and lymphoedema support to people with cancer and their loved ones.
All of our services are completely free of charge but this is only possible thanks to the support of individuals and organisations donating and fundraising to help us to deliver these services and continue to improve the wellbeing of those affected by cancer. www.starthrowers.org.uk
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