ANIEMEA-P-GB-202600224 | February 2026
Authors:
Vivienne Law, RD
Publish Date:
October 2020 | 1 hr 02 mins
Abstract:
Patients with head or neck cancer may have impaired oral intake due to condition or treatment-related side effects, such as dysphagia. Bolus feeding is recommended to help these patients meet their nutritional needs.
Once you have watched this video, please remember to complete your self-reflective notes to contribute towards your continuing professional development. You will then be able to access your Certificate of Completion.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Identify the health and social benefits of bolus feeding for patients with head & neck cancer.
State the ideal profile of a bolus feed.
Explain how to help patients manage bolus feeds at home.
AUTHOR(S) BIO
VIVIENNE LAW, RD
Macmillan Specialist Dietitian, Complex Cancer and Specialist Palliative Care
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust, Wigan
Viv has worked as a Macmillan Specialist Dietitian for over 15 years, initially becoming the first community-based Macmillan Dietitian in North East London. Whilst working in this post, she became interested in the care of patients with head and neck cancer, providing advice and support following treatment.
She then moved to work as a Macmillan Head and Neck Dietitian at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, a regional treatment centre for this specialist area. During this time, she wrote an article on nutrition and head and neck cancer for Dietetics Today and presented a poster on gastrostomy use and weight loss at the European Cancer Congress in Amsterdam in 2013.
Viv has a wide experience in the field of dietetics including teaching and training. She is currently involved in providing advice and support to patients with a complex cancer or specialist palliative diagnosis and works as part of a specialist therapy team, based in a Hospice in Greater Manchester. She has set up a joint rehabilitation clinic with the Macmillan Speech and Language Therapist for patients with head and neck cancer.
