Eat to Thrive: Putting Oncology Evidence into Practice

Lauren Fay, RD, CSO, CNSC, is a registered dietitian at the Inova Schar Cancer Institute and Life With Cancer. She is board-certified in oncology nutrition and nutrition support.

One of the largest challenges cancer survivors face is understanding correctly interpreted nutrition science, and then putting this information into practice. Inova Schar Cancer Institute and Life with Cancer® patients and survivors often ask nutrition questions throughout their journey and recovery.

Costanza Cocilovo, MD, board-certified breast surgeon and Medical Director of Inova Schar’s breast cancer program, recently held a workshop designed to provide women with tools to better understand nutrition evidence and recommendations that can maximize their health. The workshop also included strategies and concrete examples of ways to put this evidence into practice. 

“It’s easy for anyone these days to feel overwhelmed by all the nutrition information that surrounds us, and that’s especially true for people who have had cancer,” said Karen Collins, MS, RDN, CDN, FAND, American Institute for Cancer Research Nutrition Advisor.

The one-day workshop, called “Eat to Thrive: Making Nutrition Your Ally,” included presentations from nationally known registered dietitians with expertise in oncology nutrition. The sessions included trending topics in nutrition and how often these headlines carry conflicting messages. The workshop also included meal plans based on current guidelines on reducing risk for cancer occurrence. 

To learn more about the resources used at this workshop, read this recent post from the American Institute for Cancer Research.