Diet and weight management by people with nonmetastatic colorectal cancer during chemotherapy: mixed methods research

Aim: to investigate self-management of dietary intake by colorectal cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Methods: a questionnaire was administered to 92 patients with non-metastatic colorectal cancer receiving chemotherapy treatment at a UK cancer centre in 2018-19. A maximum variation sample of twenty patients who completed the questionnaire were interviewed. Results: more than three in five patients were at nutritional risk but fewer than one in five were concerned about dietary intake or weight. Self-management of diet and weight was inconsistent with achieving the nutritional intake recommended by clinical guidelines on nutrition in cancer.Conclusion: there is potential for psychoeducation to support change in self-management of nutritional risk, with implications for better treatment tolerance and outcomes including quality of life.