Nutritional Care Support Programme

Some people being treated for G. I. cancer may experience weight loss due to side effects like nausea. However, weight gain is more common in people being treated for G. I. cancer. This weight gain, in addition to carrying extra body weight, may lead to poor outcomes from treatment.

Maintaining bone health is also very important for people being treated for G. I. cancer. Also, G. I. cancer and its treatment can bring about metabolic changes that cause or aggravate symptoms of diabetes.

Our cancer nutrition team will work with you to decrease these complications during your G. I. cancer treatment. Your dietician will recommend diet modifications based on your G. I. cancer treatment regime, body weight, micronutrient deficiencies, and nutrition impact symptoms. Your dietician will also work with you to help you achieve and maintain a healthy body weight during and after treatment. Your dietician will teach you ways to incorporate aspects of an anti-inflammatory diet and physical activity into your lifestyle.

The following are ways G. I. cancer nutrition therapy can help during treatment:

• To help minimize weight gain and move toward a healthy body weight, your dietician may recommend an anti-inflammatory diet and physical activity. An anti-inflammatory diet is low in animal fat and processed foods while full of vegetables, fruits, and other fiber-rich foods.
• To combat fatigue, your dietician may recommend high-protein snacks and small, frequent meals rather than large meals. They may work with you and your care team to help you find ways to stay active to help reduce fatigue.
• To help make estrogen less harmful, your dietician may encourage you to eat more cruciferous vegetables (e.g., broccoli, kale, cabbage).
• To help maintain healthy bones, immune function, and minimize side effects from some treatments, your dietician may recommend testing your Vitamin D level and taking a supplement if your level is low.