What is a dietitian?

If you have problems with digestion or are losing weight, you should see a dietitian. A specialist dietitian is an expert in pancreatic cancer and diet. They may be called a:

• pancreatic dietitian – an expert in diet and the pancreas
• hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) dietitian – an expert in diet and the liver, gallbladder, bile duct and pancreas
• oncology dietitian – an expert in diet and cancer
• upper gastrointestinal (upper GI) dietitian – an expert in diet and the first part of the digestive system.

Not all hospitals have a specialist dietitian. Your doctor or nurse may help you with digestion symptoms, or refer you to a general dietitian.

• If you haven’t seen a dietitian and you have digestion problems, ask your medical team or GP to refer you to a specialist dietitian.
• Talk to our specialist nurses on our free Support Line. They can give you information about how to manage diet problems, and tips for speaking to your medical team.