Physical activity and good nutrition play an important role for patients with cancer. Experts at Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital know maintaining a healthy weight and food plan can improve quality of life, long term survival, and reduce the chance for cancer recurrence and side effects associated with cancer treatment.
Maura Harrigan, MS, RD, CSO, is a registered dietitian at Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital and is a certified specialist in oncology nutrition through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She meets with patients upon completion of their cancer treatment and helps devise a plan for moving forward with their wellness. Harrigan is also the Project Director for the Lifestyle, Exercise, and Nutrition (LEAN) Study. The research study is a year-long healthy eating and exercise intervention for women newly diagnosed with breast cancer who are receiving chemotherapy.
Harrigan offers diet and exercise tips for all patients with cancer:
-Why is a proper diet so important for patients with cancer and cancer survivors?
Eating nourishing foods energizes you, supports your immune system and helps you better manage the side effects of cancer treatments. Focusing on nourishing your body gives patients a sense of control and empowerment during your cancer treatments.
-Why is exercise so important for patients with cancer?
Cancer treatments can cause you to lose muscle, making you feel weak and fatigued. Exercise is as simple as taking a walk. When a friend asks you how they can help, enlist them as a Walking Buddy to help you accumulate 150 minutes a week of walking. This simple exercise supports your immune system, builds muscle and bone, and is a great stress reducer.
-Should patients with cancer consult their medical team before starting a diet/exercise plan?
Yes, but especially before using any vitamin, mineral, or herbal supplements. Many of these supplements can interfere with cancer treatments and other prescribed medications.
-What is the best advice you give to patients with cancer concerning diet/exercise? It’s never too late to start and it doesn’t have to be perfect to help you feel better and stronger. The biggest bang for your buck with exercise is going from nothing to something. The simplest way to make your diet more nourishing is to add a colorful fruit or vegetable to a meal or snack. The healing power of food is contained in the color (created by phytonutrients only found in plant foods). Capture all the colors of the rainbow (red, orange, yellow, blue, purple, green, and white) using budget-friendly frozen and canned as well as less expensive, non-organic fresh produce. Also, try to limit added sugars, especially in beverages. Remember, every day is a new opportunity to move more and eat smarter.