Cancer care nutrition plan prioritises patient voices

A white paper released this week at the European Parliament urges mandatory nutritional screening and guaranteed access to dietitians for cancer patients throughout the European Union. The document argues malnutrition remains an overlooked but key factor in treatment outcomes.

The report, titled “Nutrition in Cancer Care: Closing the Gap Between Awareness and Action”, was presented by Cancer Patients Europe (CPE) during a policy event in Brussels on February 3. MEP Michalis Hadjipantela of Cyprus hosted the session.

Malnutrition affects up to 80% of advanced-stage cancer patients

Malnutrition affects one in three cancer patients and as many as 80% of those with advanced-stage disease. Poor nutrition leads to treatment interruptions, increased toxicity, reduced quality of life, and lower survival. Despite these risks, nutritional care remains fragmented, underfunded, and insufficiently integrated into oncology pathways.

Drawing on the experiences of more than 2,500 cancer patients across 12 European countries, the White Paper reveals a persistent gap between awareness and implementation. While 70% of patients understand that appropriate nutrition supports cancer treatment, only 1 in 5 undergo nutritional screening. Just 26% receive information from healthcare professionals, and only 14% are monitored over time. Post-treatment support remains limited, and access to dietitians varies significantly across the EU Member States.

The message is clear: nutrition is recognised as important by patients, but it is not delivered as standard care.

White paper pushes for EU-wide standards

The document proposes five recommendations to move nutrition from the margins to the mainstream of cancer policy and practice:

Mandatory malnutrition screening at diagnosis and throughout treatment
Guaranteed access to dietitians and structured follow-up
Stronger implementation and monitoring of evidence-based guidelines on nutrition
Integration of nutritional care into EU cancer policies and national cancer plans
Action to reduce regional inequalities in access to nutritional care

“Nutrition is not a lifestyle add-on—it is a clinical necessity,” said Francisco Lozano, president of Cancer Patients Europe. “When malnutrition is overlooked, treatment outcomes are compromised. We developed this White Paper to close the gap between evidence and practice and to ensure that nutritional support becomes a standard, measurable component of oncology care across Europe.”

Hadjipantela stressed the need for change at the event. “The findings of this White Paper are deeply concerning, yet they are not surprising. For too long, nutrition has been treated as an afterthought in cancer care, rather than a clinical necessity. This must change.”

He pointed to the EU Beating Cancer Plan as a way to push for mandatory nutritional screening at diagnosis and throughout treatment, embedding it into oncology pathways as a standard of care.

Proper nutritional care delivers clear benefits: improved treatment tolerance, fewer complications, better recovery, and stronger health system efficiency.

The white paper’s release coincides with EU negotiations over its next multiannual financial framework. Advocates hope the findings will raise nutrition on the agenda, turning patient evidence into policy change.