Oral Cancer Nutrition Therapy
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Nutrition Therapy for Oral Cancer
Good nutrition is an important part of oral cancer treatment. The main objective of the Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) nutrition team is to support you, so you can tolerate treatment and fight the disease. Your dietitian will monitor your nutrition status from the beginning to the end of your oral cancer treatment, making modifications as needed. We will proactively support your nutritional needs to prevent potential problems or treatment interruptions before they arise.
Every oral cancer patient is scheduled to meet with a dietitian during their first visit to CTCA. During this visit, you are given a full assessment to identify daily goals for calories and protein. Your dietitian will look at your health history, disease state, and treatment plan to recommend cancer nutrition therapy and foods that mitigate side effects and nourish your body.
Eating a well-balanced diet can help you manage side effects of oral cancer treatment and limit treatment interruptions. For example, many oral cancer patients are treated with radiation therapy, and may experience fatigue and diarrhea, both of which can be managed with diet modifications. Your dietitian may make recommendations to avoid spicy, greasy and gas-producing foods. To combat fatigue, your dietitian may recommend high-protein snacks and small, frequent meals. Other oral cancer nutrition recommendations will be customized according to the type of cancer treatment you receive.
The cancer nutrition team at CTCA actively partners with our naturopathic clinicians to further manage side effects of oral cancer treatment. The teams collaborate to provide you with supplements and other therapies to support optimal digestion and nutrition.
Our oral cancer nutrition experts will also provide education about healthy eating habits to your caregivers and family members, so you can continue a healthy lifestyle after you return home.
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