About VCMC

The VCMC program of work aims to increase understanding and knowledge, and promote strategies for action in order to address cancer malnutrition. This program of work is proudly supported by the Victorian Government, Peter Mac and Western Central Melbourne Integrated Cancer Services. 

WHO WE ARE

The VCMC community is made of our lead team based at Peter Mac, dietitians from around Victoria working in cancer care, cancer consumers, health professionals, community organisations and policy makers – all working together to educate, engage and improve the care, systems and information provided to people with cancer and their supports.  

CANCER MALNUTRITION

Nutrition is important for all people with cancer regardless of diagnosis, treatment type or timing in the cancer pathway. Cancer malnutrition is common in people with cancer, but should not be considered an expected side effect of cancer. Malnutrition should be prevented at all stages of the cancer journey as it can cause problems such as:

• An increase in the side effects from treatment; the chance of infection; time spent in hospital; and muscle strength.
• A decrease in muscle strength; how well treatment works; how well your immune system works; wound healing.

OUR TEAM

• Jenelle Loeliger
• Belinda Steer
• Jane Stewart 
• Isabel Bailey 
• Rebecca McIntosh
• Vanessa Hughes
• Kate Graham

REPORTS & PUBLICATIONS

• Phase I summary report - Investigating practices relating to cancer malnutrition in Victorian cancer services 2012
• Phase II summary report - Malnutrition in Victorian cancer services summary report 2013
• Phase III summary report - Phase III Malnutrition in Victorian Cancer Services: summary report
• Cancer malnutrition: feeding everyone from hospital to home - final project report
• Cultural adaptation of the Malnutrition Screening Tool and associated resources - final project report

VCMC FACT SHEETS & LINKS

• Cancer malnutrition point prevalence study 2016: final results
• Cancer malnutrition point prevalence study 2018: initial results
• Summary of Feeding Everyone from Hospital to Home project results
• CanEAT pathway and MST infographic for people with cancer and their carers
• CanEAT pathway and MST infographic for health professionals
• Malnutrition Screening Tool - available in English and 10 other languages 
• Preventing weight loss for people with cancer fact sheet - in English, Arabic, Greek, Spanish, Croatian, Italian, Macedonian, Turkish, Vietnamese, Traditional Chinese (Cantonese) or, Simplified Chinese (Mandarin)
• Malnutrition governance toolkit
• Malnutrition in Cancer eLearning program

COMMUNICATION & EVENTS

To keep informed and updated on project work being undertaken within the VCMC we welcome you to subscribe to our email list. This will give you access to our bi-annual eNewsletters and includes an invitation to join free Community of Practice events.

Previous VCMC e-Newsletters

• August 2022
• February 2022
• July 2021
• December 2020
• August 2020
• October 2019
• July 2019
• Nov 2018

Community of Practice

The bi-annual Community of Practice event provides a forum for participants to interact, share their practice and deepen their knowledge of nutrition care in cancer. This will help to assist in guiding state-wide nutrition projects. Partnering with consumers in the development and evaluation of services vastly improves their quality, relevance and public confidence, and is a requirement of the National Standards.

The next Community of Practice forum will be held in May 2023. We welcome you to subscribe to the VCMC email list to recieve project updates and invitations to VCMC  events and forums.

CONTACT US

General enquiries - [email protected]

Project oversight - [email protected]