Cancer Cookbook Promotes the Positive Power of Food for People in Treatment

LONDON, November 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --



A new cookbook of recipes for people undergoing cancer treatment launches today. Around the Kitchen Table written by best-selling author and chef, Penny Ericson, will be available for free in Maggie's Cancer Centres across the UK.

The book's name Around the Kitchen Table is a reference to one of the core elements of the service provided by Maggie's Centres located in NHS cancer hospital grounds across the UK. Each Centre is designed around a central kitchen table which is a place where people with cancer, their friends and carers can meet, get help and share experiences with others. Bernie Byrne, Centre Head for Maggie's in London, welcomes the donation:

"Around the Kitchen Table' can offer essential practical information about nutrition to support a cancer diagnosis as treatment and recovery can affect taste and appetite. We are delighted that this book will be available in Maggie's Centres"

Around the Kitchen Table contains over 50 recipes from easy snacks to nourishing meals and drinks. Some of the recipes are designed specifically to help with some of the symptoms of treatment, from dry mouth to nausea and changes in taste caused by cancer treatment. There are sections of evidence-based nutritional advice and each recipe has been analysed with an easy to understand 'Thumbs Up' score by Barbara Parry, Senior Research Dietician in the Breast Cancer Unit at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital. Captured in the book are also the personal stories of treatment and eating from across Europe from people living with cancer.

Penny was inspired to write her first cancer cookbook and share her experience when her husband, Simon was in treatment for bowel cancer. Over the four year period Simon underwent treatment Penny found much of the cancer literature and information confusing and lacking clear nutritional information. She believes there is too much focus on food as part of the problem rather than something that can have a positive impact on physical and psychological well-being. Penny explains:

"There are so many 'special diets' in the media and on bookshelves. I believe in healthy living, moderation and going the extra mile to enjoy the experience of food and drink. To me, this book is a sampler of possibilities. Cancer treatment can greatly affect a person's enjoyment or appetite for food, but eating well and enjoying eating is so important. Around the kitchen table concentrates on waking up the taste-buds and highlighting ingredients we know to be helpful during treatment."

All recipes in Around the Kitchen Table were created at home with a focus on using the freshest ingredients. The wide variety of recipes means there is something for everyone. It isn't a book about special food for cancer, rather a collection of everyday food and cookery highlighting the goodness in what can be done easily at home.

"The effect that cancer and cancer treatment has is very personal to each individual and so the impact on their appetite or enjoyment of food is also very specific. Without the recipes that Penny created for me, some of which can be found in this book, I wouldn't have been able to improve my diet and stay as strong as possible. This allowed me to undergo the treatment that saved my life," says Simon.

The book, initiated and funded by Eisai, was inspired by Marina (Maz) Carruthers, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2011. During chemotherapy Maz benefited from the support of her local Maggie's Centre. Through conversations with a Maggie's nutritionist Maz founded 'A Wee Boost', a social enterprise juice and snack bar in Glasgow created to provide healthy, nutritious alternatives to people while they were undergoing treatment. Sadly after battling with cancer for over two years, Maz passed away in July of this year. Maz's work to improve nutrition for people undergoing treatment led to the creation of this book and it is dedicated to her memory.

An initial run of 2,000 books have been printed and distributed to Maggie's Centres across the UK and available free-to-take for any visitor with cancer, their friends or carers. Any healthcare professionals who would like to receive copies to use and distribute are invited to contact us. In addition a 'free to download' ebook will be available at http://www.chemocookeryclub.com

Notes to Editors

About Maggie's

People with Cancer need places like these. Located in the grounds of major NHS cancer hospitals, Maggie's Centres are places that can give the extra emotional, practical and social support that people with cancer need. For more information go to: http://www.maggiescentres.org.uk

Simon Hawkins

I was diagnosed with cancer of the colon in 2009 and had an operation very soon afterward followed by three-months of chemotherapy which brought with it many side effects. By far the worst, was the effect on my taste-buds. I lost all sense of taste and all interest in food in general. Yes there was plenty of nutritional advice but I found it bewildering.

After meeting my wife, Penny, I became her project. She created recipes that were designed to give me all the nutrients I needed and which, miraculously, I could taste and enjoy. My appetite returned and I got stronger as food once again became a positive part of my life. Sadly the cancer returned and I had to endure more long courses of chemotherapy but Penny's food made me strong enough to be able to have the ground-breaking 12 hour operation that saved my life. I owe my life to Penny."

Barbara Parry: Cancer Research Dietician

"Around the Kitchen Table does not attempt to be a sole source of nutritional advice. It can however help people and their families find a way through the cancer tunnel, it's a reliable and evidence-based guiding light. Sometimes, when treatment is depleting your appetite and interest in food, you just need a small portion of something packed with nutrition to turn the corner towards feeling better. It's a great bonus when it's something that the whole family can enjoy along with you!"

About Eisai

Eisai is one of the world's leading research and development (R&D) based pharmaceutical companies and we define our corporate mission as "giving first thought to patients and their families and to increasing the benefits health care provides," which we call human health care (hhc).

Eisai in Oncology

Eisai is committed to meaningful progress in oncology research, built on scientific expertise, and supported by a global capability to conduct discovery and preclinical research, develop small molecules, therapeutic vaccines, biologic and supportive care agents for cancer across multiple indications.

With operations in the U.S., Asia, Europe and its domestic home market of Japan, Eisai employs more than 10,000 people worldwide. From its EMEA Knowledge Centre in Hatfield, UK, Eisai's business operations include Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Russia and Oceania (EMEA). For further information please visit our web site http://www.eisai.co.uk

About Chemo Cookery Club

If you love Around the Kitchen Table - please go to http://www.chemocookeryclub.com to find out more about Penny's best-selling book - 'Chemo Cookery Club'.

Chemo Cookery Club is packed with delicious recipes to help make everyday food a positive part of life for people undergoing cancer treatment and their family and friends. With tempting treats and healthy food ideas, the emphasis is on the nutritional values that can make a difference, but most importantly this is a book that lifts the spirits - especially when eating can become a bit tricky. If you or someone you love are going through treatment, this book will help you create delicious meals and snacks that tantalise the taste buds no matter how experienced - or otherwise - you are in the kitchen. Penny Ericson celebrates everyday meals and how they contribute to wellness, both physically and emotionally. If you're struggling with loss of appetite, wondering how to get more iron into your diet, wanting to relieve 'metal mouth' or dismayed that the foods you used to love now seem boring and tasteless as a result of treatment, Penny can help. Nutritional information and recipe analysis has been contributed by leading cancer research dietician Barbara Parry MSc RD, and the book has been enthusiastically endorsed by major cancer charities.

Date of preparation: November 2013

Job code: Corporate-UK2022