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Onco Nutrition and Dietetics

Why Nutrition Matters in Cancer Care?

Onco-nutrition is essential in cancer care because it significantly assists the body during treatment and recovery. Chemotherapy and radiation oncology treatments can result in weight loss and malnutrition, thus weakening the body. Proper onco-nutrition sustains a healthy weight. A nutrition diet for cancer patients supports better management of the side effects of treatment.

A good diet for cancer patients enhances the immune system. A healthy immune system fights various types of infections. Vitamins, minerals, and proteins in the diet contribute to better health and make the body more resistant to infectious diseases.

Optimal nutrition manages treatment side effects. Most cancer treatments lead to side effects such as nausea, fatigue, and mouth sores. These side effects make eating food difficult. Optimal nutrition strategies manage these symptoms, allowing patients to eat with minimal discomfort.

A customized nutrition plan for cancer patients includes macro- and micronutrients in the right proportion and plays a significant role in the recovery and healing of cancer patients. After surgery or complex treatments, the body needs nutrients to repair tissues and recover faster. Proteins and other nutrients are crucial for tissue repair and recovery.

Maintaining muscle mass is vital. Cancer and its treatments often result in muscle wasting due to weakness and fatigue. Sufficient protein intake sustains muscles and energy, hence enhancing the quality of life. A good diet for oncology patients can provide them with the required strength and energy during their treatments. It has been observed that a well-nourished body will show a better treatment response.

HCG Approach to Onco Nutrition and Diet

1. A Holistic and Patient-Centered Approach

HCG follows a patient-centered and holistic approach to providing an optimal diet plan for a cancer patient. Individualized nutrition care is thus tailor-made for each patient according to their needs and preferences, and treatment plans are developed. The approach works on physical, social, and emotional health parameters, thus ensuring complete support.

Personalized nutrition plans help manage symptoms, side effects, and eating preferences and thereby contribute to the overall well-being of cancer patients. The HCG team comprises dietitians, physicians, nurses, and other health professionals who provide integrated care to cancer patients.

2. Integration of Nutrition Services with Cancer Care Plan

Onco-nutrition services are part of the holistic care delivered to cancer patients. The HCG team acknowledges that nutrition is integral to the treatment process, meets dietary needs, alleviates side effects, and supports recovery.

Oncology nutritionists work directly with oncologists and health professionals to develop individual nutrition plans that complement the medical treatment of each patient. Regular nutritional assessments and adjustments maintain muscle strength, immunity, and good health. It increases treatment effectiveness and quality of life for patients, supporting better clinical outcomes.

During the course of treatment, there might be a need for specialized nutrition support through tube feeding or parenteral nutrition. The oncology nutritionists work in tandem with the medical team to ensure that the patient’s needs for calories, macronutrients, and micronutrients are met during this time of specialized nutrition support while preventing nutritional deficiencies, which may lead to treatment delays and hospital readmissions.

3. Diet Tips by HCG Dieticians

The cancer diet plans devised by our oncology dietitians help cancer patients maintain their energy and strength throughout their treatment. A good diet for cancer patients comprises fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains, which help them sustain energy and strength. They also advise the patients to drink plenty of water to keep them hydrated.

The onco-dieticians at HCG assist cancer patients with customized nutritional plans to manage various side effects of cancer treatment, namely loss of appetite and nausea. Healthy fats, such as avocados and nuts, are involved in weight maintenance. Processed foods and sugars must be avoided to prevent inflammation. Individual advice concerning specific side effects of treatment ensures balanced nutrition.

Onco Nutrition and Diet Consultation at HCG

1. Nutritional Assessment and Counseling

Nutritional assessment and counseling are essential for cancer patients. Evaluation of dietary history, weight changes before and after the disease, body composition, and dietary deficiencies helps understand each patient's needs. Nutrition interventions are planned based on a detailed nutrition assessment with goals to improve treatment outcomes.

Nutritional counseling involves individualized advice to manage treatment side effects, maintain strength, and support immune function. It also helps manage loss of appetite, nausea, and malnutrition and optimizes the patient's diet for better treatment outcomes.

Regular follow-up ensures that the dietary plans are altered, if necessary. It further improves health and quality of life during and after cancer treatment.

2. Personalized Meal Planning

Planning personalized meals for cancer patients is essential for fulfilling individual nutritional needs and enhancing treatment outcomes. Oncology dietitians at HCG prepare meal plans based on the patient's medical condition, treatment side effects, dietary preferences, and nutritional deficiencies.

Personalized meal plans enhance strength, improve immune function, and efficiently manage symptoms like nausea and appetite loss. Oncology dietitians work in collaboration with patients to develop a healthy and fulfilling meal plan. It promotes better adherence to dietary recommendations.

Regular adjustments are made to accommodate changing needs, provide optimal nutrition throughout one’s cancer journey, and improve overall health and quality of life.

3. Support for Side Effects Management

Nutritional support in malignancies manages specific side effects related to quality of life, such as nausea and lack of appetite. Individualized onco-nutrition plans provide frequent, light meals to counter nausea and ensure the proper intake of nutrients.

Foods for cancer treatment patients are recommended based on the individual needs of the patient. High-protein foods can help preserve the muscles, while water will help avoid fatigue and dehydration. Soft food can be helpful when dysphagia or mucositis occurs. Additionally, oncology dietitians advise on ways of coping with taste changes and increasing calorie intake if necessary.

4. Nutritional Support for Recovery

Nutritional support during chemotherapy and surgery is crucial for patients to regain or recover their energy. A proper diet that is rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals ensures tissue repair and enhances the immune system. Nutritional food for cancer patients includes lean meats, dairy products, legumes, and fresh fruits and vegetables.

Tailored nutrition programs meet these individual needs and manage side effects to promote energy restoration and improved quality of life. Regular follow-up care with an oncology dietitian can promote optimum recovery and help with weight maintenance.

Meet our Onco Nutritionist and Dietitian at HCG

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Why Choose HCG For Onco Nutrition and Diet Care?

HCG is one of the leading hospitals for cancer treatment in India. It firmly believes in holistic care, wherein our specialists not only focus on treating cancer but also on the comfort and overall well-being of our patients. As one of the oncology services at HCG, onco-dietetics ensures complete and personalized dietary care for cancer patients. At HCG, nutritional counseling is offered by experts with specialized training in oncology nutrition.

These oncology dietitians provide a proper diet for cancer patients to meet their requirements. Their dietary recommendations blend perfectly with medical treatments, minimizing side effects and promoting overall health. The onco-dietetics team at HCG is focused on patient-centered care, which includes repeated assessment and modification of nutritional plans to provide optimum support throughout the cancer journey.

The evidence-based nutritional practices cancer patients are made to follow here are found to positively impact their treatment outcomes, immunity, and quality of life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Optimal nutrition is important for all cancer patients, irrespective of the stage. It positively impacts treatment adherence, boosts immunity, and helps in recovery. A healthy diet is crucial for maintaining strength and energy during treatment, reducing side effects, and improving the quality of life during and after treatment.

You may use one of the following methods listed below to schedule a consultation with our onco-dietitians:

HCG Care App: Through our mobile app, HCG Care, you may book an appointment with any of our onco-dietitians with just a few clicks. This app is available both on the Google Play Store and the iOS App Store.

HCG Call Center: You can reach out to our centralized call center by giving a call at +91 74064 999999, where one of our operators will help you book an appointment with the onco-dietitian of your choice.

Reference from Your Treating Doctor: If you are already getting treated at HCG and you wish to consult an onco-dietitian, you may speak to your treating doctor and ask them to refer you to an onco-dietician available there.

The number of follow-up visits with an oncology dietitian varies based on individual needs and the treatment given. Usually, periodic follow-ups are done to monitor progress, manage changes in food needs, improve side effects, and offer supportive care.

Although nutrition alone cannot prevent a recurrence, a balanced diet with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins sustains general health and immune function. Maintaining a healthy weight and limiting excessive alcohol intake and processed foods may also help reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.

There is no evidence that cancer can be treated with diet. The primary goal of a cancer diet is to provide cancer patients with the energy and strength they need during their treatment. It may also positively impact their immune function.

That said, opting for nutritional counseling throughout one’s cancer journey has been found to positively impact treatment adherence and recovery after treatment.

Diet plans for cancer patients are customized based on their individual needs. Based on their overall health condition, the number of radiotherapy sessions, and the side effects experienced due to radiotherapy, patients may receive individualized nutritional plans to manage their side effects effectively and complete their treatment.