Feel Healthier and Stay Strong

Guest Post by Anna Zufall, MMSc, RD, CD, CSO

Living with cancer is one of the most daunting experiences you can face. Unfortunately, your cancer and its treatment may result in a number of nutrition impact symptoms (appetite loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,  constipation, alterations in taste and smell, swallowing difficulty, etc.). These symptoms may also lead to secondary problems, with all having the potential to affect your quality of life.

As an Oncology Dietitian, I have witnessed firsthand how a cancer diagnosis can quickly rob a life of normalcy. And with quality of life issues crossing each facet of the cancer continuum, the impact can be severe.

Proactive nutritional care, including focusing on good nutritional management and careful food selection, especially in the first days after diagnosis, may help in maintaining a high quality of life throughout your cancer journey. Eating the right kinds of foods can help you feel healthier and stay strong. Many patients have expressed to me improvements in their quality of life with even modest diet modifications. And though nutritional needs may vary as you go through the cancer experience, it is important to focus on consuming adequate nutrition to maintain a desirable weight and activity level.

For most people, a healthy diet includes lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads and cereals,
modest amounts of meat and milk products and small amounts of fat, sugar, and salt. However, when you have cancer, dietary needs can be somewhat different. You may need extra calories and protein to help keep up your strength and energy.

Consider adding more calories and protein to your daily diet by increasing your intake of foods such as milk, yogurt, natural cheeses, eggs, nuts, seeds, peanut butter, poultry, fish, beans and legumes. Liquid nutritional supplements can also provide more calories and protein in the diet. Also, include nutritious snacks daily—keep a variety of protein-rich snacks on hand that are easy to prepare and eat, such as cheese and crackers, cereal and milk, a hearty bowl of soup, or half of a sandwich. Avoid foods that may make any treatment-related side effects worse.

By empowering yourself with nutrition—making small, achievable positive changes—you are helping yourself to retain your health and your quality of life.

So remember, good nutrition is always important and is vital during your cancer journey. It can help you maintain weight and offer relief from nutrition impact symptoms for improved quality of life.

Your body is fighting disease, and food is an essential weapon in the fight. Take a proactive approach to your health—give yourself the gift of good nutrition. Eat well and often throughout your cancer journey!

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Anna Zufall, MMSc, RD, CD, CSO

Anna a Registered Dietitian and is Board Certified as a Specialist in Oncology (CSO) Nutrition. Drawing upon her 15 years of  experience, she provides clinical support for TherapEase Cuisine. Anna is one of less than 600 Oncology Certified Dietitians across the
nation helping patients with cancer.
Learn more at www.therapeasecuisine.com.
Online Nutritional Support for Cancer Patients and Survivors