Nutrition for Cancer Patients
Oncology dietitian Jessie Owens shares information during the "Cooking for Life" class held for cancer patients and survivors at Huntington's Kitchen.
For cancer patients, good nutrition has been linked to a better chance of recovery. It helps to keep you healthier during treatment and fighting side effects, infection and illness. The ECCC's oncology dietitian, Jessie Owens, works individually with you, as well as your family or caregivers, to offer simple, practical advice, set nutritional goals and develop a personalized nutrition plan that addresses the unique challenges of your food preferences, illness and treatment. Oncology nutrition services are designed to help you:
- Prevent or fight malnourishment
- Prevent deterioration of your lean body mass
- Bolster your strength and energy to better tolerate treatment
- Reduce complications and related illnesses
- Fortify your immune system
- Hasten recovery and healing
- Improve your quality of life
It is important that cancer symptoms and side effects that affect eating and cause weight loss are treated early. Both nutrition therapy and medicine, when appropriate, can help you stay at a healthy weight.
Too Sick to Eat?
You may experience symptoms related to your cancer or treatment that make it more challenging to eat the right foods, so it's important to work closely with Susan, who will advise you on ways to deal with weight loss, fatigue and/or nausea in order to help you get the nutrition you need.
Once you begin to feel better, she will continue to work with you to build good habits and eat well in the long term. By working closely with the dietitian and practicing good eating habits, you may be able to maintain your weight and achieve good nutrition, even while coping with cancer and its side effects.
At the Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center, the oncology dietitian is a key part of your care team. To learn more about nutrition services for cancer patients, please call Jessie Owens at 304.399.6562.