Nutrition in Cancer Care: New European White Paper Calls for Action

Nutrition in cancer care: why it needs greater attention

Nutrition is not always recognised as a core part of cancer care. Yet for many people, weight loss, reduced appetite and muscle loss are common during treatment.

A new white paper from Cancer Patients Europe highlights the need for nutrition and dietetic support to be integrated more consistently into cancer care systems across Europe.

Why good nutrition is important

Malnutrition in cancer can affect:

• Strength and energy

• Treatment tolerance

• Recovery

• Quality of life

The white paper notes that nutritional screening and access to qualified dietitians are not routinely embedded in many healthcare pathways.

This can lead to variation in care depending on where someone lives.

What the white paper calls for

The report outlines several priorities, including:

• Routine nutritional screening for people diagnosed with cancer

• Access to trained dietitians as part of multidisciplinary cancer teams

• Clear clinical pathways for nutritional support

• Greater recognition of nutrition as part of comprehensive cancer care

The recommendations apply across cancers, including lung cancer.

Why this is relevant for lung cancer

People living with lung cancer may experience weight loss, reduced appetite or muscle loss during treatment.

Structured nutritional support can help maintain strength and support overall wellbeing during therapy.

As a member of the Cancer Patients Europe network, Lung Cancer Europe supports the call for nutrition to be recognised as part of standard cancer care across Europe.

Source

Cancer Patients Europe.
Nutrition in Cancer Care White Paper.
February 2026.