Bone Cancer Nutrition Therapy

Nutrition Therapy for Bone Cancer

While you’re fighting bone cancer, nutrition is critical so that you can maintain your strength and aggressively combat the disease.

Maintaining a healthy diet can ensure that you get the nutrients you need to stay strong and reduce side effects, so you can complete bone cancer treatment more comfortably, without delays or interruptions.

At Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), our licensed and registered dietitians will work with you every step of the way to develop an individualized nutrition therapy plan designed to help you obtain optimal nutrition throughout your treatment:

• Before Treatment – Your dietitian and gastroenterologist will assess your nutritional needs and identify any barriers or challenges to meeting these needs. They will then work with you to develop an individualized plan to address any nutritional deficiencies and ensure that your dietary requirements are met.
• During Treatment - Your dietitian will monitor your nutrition status and make modifications to your cancer nutrition plan if necessary. They will also provide you with ideas for meals, and education about healthy eating habits.
• After Treatment – Your dietitian will provide additional support and education to make sure that you and your family can continue to make healthy lifestyle choices when you return home.

Managing Side Effects with Nutrition Therapy

Nutrition therapy can help to manage or reduce many of the side effects associated with bone cancer and its treatment. At CTCA, your dietitian will perform a comprehensive nutrition assessment, and recommend diet modifications based on your treatment regimen, micronutrient deficiencies and nutrition impact symptoms.

The following are a few ways your cancer nutrition plan can help combat side effects of treatment:

• Nausea: To combat nausea, your dietitian may recommend that you eat more cold foods because they don’t have a strong odor, as well as items lower in fat, since fats take longer to digest.
• Constipation: Your dietitian may encourage you to eat fiber-rich foods and increase your fluid intake.
• Diarrhea: Avoiding spicy, greasy, high-fiber, dairy and gas- producing foods may help if you have diarrhea. Your dietician may also suggest pectin smoothies.
• Fatigue: High-protein snacks and eating small, frequent meals rather than large meals may help you to combat fatigue.

Your dietitian will also monitor your nutrition status closely throughout your treatment to prevent malnutrition. They may prescribe supplements and appetite stimulants, and suggest eating more frequent, high-calorie meals or drinking oral supplements.

A Team-Based Approach for Bone Cancer Treatment 

Your dietitian will work with your oncologists and the other members of your care team to make sure your diet supports your other treatments. Our Patient Empowered Care® clinic brings your orthopedic oncologist, clinic nurse, registered dietitian, naturopathic clinician and nurse care manager to you. With this approach, you enjoy greater comfort, convenience and privacy by meeting with your care team in one room.

Working together in close proximity allows for a fully integrated approach to treating bone cancer. Your dietitian is able to share any specific nutrition challenges with other members of your care team. Everyone works together to find solutions that meet your individual needs.

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