It’s no secret: Cancer treatments are powerful. It’s also no secret that these drugs can also harm healthy cells in the body, which can lead to side effects. It’s not uncommon for patients to feel nauseous or experience a loss of appetite as a result of treatment. While there are medications you can take to … Read more
Caregivers play a vital role in helping cancer patients face the daily challenges of their diagnosis. While everyone’s needs may vary, caregivers are often asked to assist a patient with their meals. This help comes in many forms, from preparing a single dish to grocery shopping. No matter what you’re asked to do, it’s important … Read more
Whether you’re a cancer patient or not, what should you be paying attention to on the Nutrition Facts label found on packaged food and beverages in the United States? How you can take this information and adapt it to your specific needs? In this podcast, we dig into these questions and more with Stacy Kennedy … Read more
Why is nutrition so important, and what should cancer patients should keep in mind during and after treatment? With the help of Stacy Kennedy, MPH, RD/LDN, CSO, senior nutritionist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, we debunk a few nutrition myths in this podcast — and provide tips on what you can do to eat healthfully. Austin … Read more
Nutrition plays an important role in a child’s cancer treatment. Side effects from treatment, such as chemotherapy and radiation, can make eating difficult for children. As a result, maintaining age appropriate weight, and supporting age appropriate growth, can be challenging. It is important to talk to your medical team regarding your child’s nutrition status at … Read more
A healthy, balanced diet is an important part of cancer treatment and survivorship. The right foods can promote strength and overall wellness in patients, as well as lower cancer risk. And adopting certain eating habits can also help combat common side effects of treatment, including nausea and weight loss. Here are some nutrition tips for … Read more
Thanksgiving is fast approaching, which for many means a meal of turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, and more. It is important to enjoy this time with your family, but you can still stay on a healthy track while enjoying your favorite foods. Dana-Farber nutritionists share what they cook at Thanksgiving to put a healthy spin on … Read more
Dana-Farber nutritionists help patients create and maintain healthy diets for all stages of treatment. They can provide meal plans, advice for managing treatment side effects, and tips for post-treatment wellness. But have you ever wondered what nutritionists like to eat? Here, Dana-Farber nutritionists share five of their favorite healthy breakfasts: 1.Ultimate Breakfast Sandwich Stacy Kennedy, … Read more
As 2014 comes to a close, we’re taking a look back at some of our favorite videos from the last year: Tom Brokaw: What it Means to Have Cancer NBC News’ Tom Brokaw, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in August 2013, stopped by Dana-Farber in November. We talked with him about his cancer experience … Read more
For cancer patients, a healthy, balanced diet is important for managing symptoms and promoting survivorship and overall wellness. But in a world where it’s nearly impossible to tell one fad diet from the next, it can be difficult to determine which foods are actually good for you. Below, we debunking some of the common myths … Read more
Whether it’s before, during, or after cancer treatment, nutrition plays a critical role in a patient’s overall health. Certain foods, especially fresh fruits and vegetables, can help increase energy levels, support the immune system, and manage side effects. Dana-Farber (@DanaFarber) and HealthCentral (@healthcentral) hosted a live Twitter chat on nutrition and cancer on March 12, … Read more
Feeling constipated? You may have not be getting enough fiber in your diet. Fiber-rich diets are a key component to preventing and reducing constipation and can help you maintain a healthy gut. Dietary fiber offers many health benefits from reducing chronic diseases like diabetes to lowering your risk of some types of cancer, such as colorectal cancer. Fiber is an undigested nutrient that passes through the body when you consume fruits, … Read more
Marsha Olsen’s grandmother always used to say, “You have one body, take good care of it.” And for most of her life, Olsen has spread that message as a middle school physical education and health teacher instilling healthy habits in her students. “I wanted all my students to have a positive experience in physical education, … Read more
From vibrantly frosted cupcakes to fruity cereal and rainbow bagels, synthetic dyes are often found in a variety of foods. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows the use of seven synthetic dyes to impart color on food, but many are being phased out amid growing public concern about whether synthetic food dyes (also … Read more
Among cancer diagnoses, prostate cancer is relatively common, especially for those who are older than 65. Fortunately, it is often manageable with minimal interventions necessary for a substantial portion of patients. However, many prostate cancer cases can be categorized as “aggressive,” meaning it will require more extensive treatment to address or avoid metastasis (spread of the cancer). … Read more
Many animals, including house pets, produce their own vitamin C. Early human ancestors did too. But they lost the ability about 60 million years ago, trading the health benefits of vitamin C production for the ability to produce more energy. Yet vitamin C is still an essential nutrient for humans. Without it, humans develop scurvy, … Read more
Dana-Farber’s Older Adult Gastrointestinal Cancer Program specializes in treating patients who are 65 and older and have gastrointestinal cancers, such as colorectal cancer, esophageal and gastric cancer, liver cancer, neuroendocrine and pancreatic cancer. “Older adults are richly complex and multidimensional,” says gastrointestinal and geriatric oncologist Nadine McCleary, MD, MPH, who leads the program. “They deserve … Read more
The group of oils known as seed oils has recently come under scrutiny in various online communities. Pointing to the processing they undergo and their fatty acid make-up, some people oppose the use of these oils—which include peanut oil, sesame seed oil, canola oil, soybean oil, and others—claiming that they are unhealthy. The truth, however, … Read more
Patricia Smith’s experience with cancer will stay with her for the rest of her life. “Walking through deep waters changes you,” she says. “You’re still the same person, but you’re different.” In 2009, Smith was diagnosed with B-cell diffuse lymphoma after she experienced weeks of fatigue and found a lump under her right arm. She … Read more
Thirteen years after Vici Robinson was treated for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, she began experiencing shortness of breath. Her local physicians in New Hampshire determined her symptoms came from liquid that was filling her lung. Then came the shocking news that this was caused by a breast cancer recurrence which had metastasized. At 81, Robinson … Read more