By Marilyn Priddy, MA, RD, LDN, IPMR STAR Certified Dietitian
If you are a cancer survivor and had chemotherapy, surgery, and/or radiation, you may have experienced difficulty eating. Cancer and its treatments take a toll on the body with side effects that decrease appetite often leading to weight loss, decreased nutrient intake, and fatigue. Even after treatments are completed, many individuals experience difficulty eating for a variety of reasons. If that is your situation, you might benefit from nutrition counseling.
Some cancer survivors don’t lose weight but gain it during cancer treatments. Losing excess weight might be another reason for nutrition counseling. Research is showing that weight loss, even a modest amount, by breast cancer survivors will help reduce cancer recurrence.
Who would I go to for nutrition counseling?
Registered dietitians are the most experienced in providing nutrition counseling. Becoming a registered dietitian requires a four-year college degree, an internship or equivalent experience, passing a national registration exam, and obtaining a license in the state where one works. Dietitians are encouraged to obtain specialized education, training, and/or a masters or doctorate degree. You should be aware that some who advertise “nutrition counseling” do not have a dietitian degree or expertise in nutrition.
As a cancer survivor, you need to be careful of unusual diets and/or nutritional supplements that are encouraged and prescribed by some. When looking for a nutrition counselor, look for someone with an RD/LDN behind her/his name. The initials stand for registered dietitian/licensed dietitian nutritionist. It’s also helpful if the dietitian has experience working with people who have had cancer.
What can I expect when working with a dietitian?
Your medical history, labs, diet history, and eating behaviors will all be reviewed. You probably will be advised to keep food records for a period of time to better assess the adequacy of your diet and review your eating behaviors. Some people will need to keep a record of symptoms if they are experiencing prolonged stomach or intestinal problems. Gathering such important information may lead to a solution for your individual problem or concern. Sometimes nutrition counseling takes only a few sessions, but for some it might require more. For individuals who want to work on weight loss, it often requires a longer time to change eating habits and help you achieve healthy lifestyle goals.
IPMR’s (The Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation) STAR (Survivorship Training and Rehabilitation) Cancer Rehab Program welcomes any cancer survivor, newly diagnosed, undergoing treatment, or post treatment, who is not satisfied with his or her current level of functioning. The STAR Registered Dietitian has a master’s degree in counseling and has worked with clients who have had many medical problems including cancer.
If you are a breast cancer survivor, you can receive free nutrition counseling funded by the Foundation of IPMR and a community grant from Komen Peoria. Call 309-692-8670 if you are interested in scheduling a nutrition counseling appointment. To learn more about the IPMR STAR Cancer Rehab Program, visit www.ipmr.org, or email star.navigator@ipmr.org.
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