Nutrition Therapy: Integrated Treatment
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Partners in Your Care
CTCA dietitians work on a regular basis with many clinicians at CTCA at Midwestern Regional Medical Center, including medical oncologists, naturopaths, physical therapists, mind-body therapists, pharmacists, care managers, and nurses.
For example, the dietitians collaborate with the oncology rehabilitation team’s physical therapists to help patients regain weight and muscle. In turn, these patients may reclaim their ability to function. It also enables them to experience a better quality of life.
The dietitians also work in partnership with the hospital’s mind-body therapists, who are well versed in helping patients, and their family members, deal with cancer- or treatment-related weight loss or gain.
“A lot of times food can become a source of control in the family,” says Lammersfeld. “In these cases, it may be necessary for our dietitians and mind-body therapists to meet with the patient’s family members to talk about his or her weight loss or gain. We can help them understand what is going on with the patient’s body and how it is affecting his or her ability to eat and digest food. We also explain why pushing the patient to eat only imposes more stress on the patient. It can also cause conflict between the patient and his or her family.”
