Food is vital in battling cancer
Food is vital in battling cancer
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By Jeff Raymond
Published: April 6, 2008
Food is one of the best medicines for battling cancer, doctors and dietitians say.
A proper diet can mean the difference between a tolerable experience and a horrible one.Advertisement
A tasty weapon
Nutrition keeps cancer patients' immune systems strong, said Kalli Campbell, a registered dietitian at Cancer Treatment Centers of America. This year, she said, the American Dietetic Association began offering certification in oncology for registered dietitians.
"There's just so much to know with oncology,” she said.
When Campbell and others assess a patient's nutritional needs, they look for specific deficiencies. A person may eat too little protein or may need zinc to help restore taste.
"There's no one food, no supplement, not one diet out there that is proven to beat cancer,” Campbell said.
Sheradee Hurst, a spokeswoman for Saint Anthony Hospital, said cancer patients can be susceptible to infection from bacteria on fresh fruits and vegetables because their immune systems are compromised. These patients may be restricted from eating them. Otherwise, there is no special diet for cancer patients.
Saint Anthony isn't alone: Hospitals typically don't have cancer-specific menus.
Karen Massey, a registered dietitian at Integris Baptist Medical Center, said cancer patients' diets must be individualized.
Although there is no special diet for cancer patients, cancer-prevention nutrition differs from that needed while receiving treatment.
"Nutrition strategies during treatment are often geared at minimizing the potential side effects of treatment,” she said.
They include constipation, which is treated by drinking adequate fluids and eating high-fiber foods, and anemia, which can be treated by eating iron-rich foods.
Dietary help also may treat nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, she said.
Caloric and protein needs also often are higher among those receiving cancer treatment. Massey said these patients may prefer protein-rich liquids over raw foods or meats because of mouth sores. Anxiety or depression also may affect a person's desire to eat.

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