Getting the Most Out of Nutrition Counseling During Cancer Treatment
January 13th, 2014 - by Jessica Iannotta
Nutrition counseling has a tremendous value in helping patients and caregivers develop and manage a healthy nutrition plan. It has been demonstrated that nutrition counseling before, during, and after cancer treatment can help to improve outcomes.
How to select the right expert:
The title “nutritionist” is not a regulated or licensed professional title. Therefore, anyone can call themselves a nutritionist. It is important to only seek nutrition advice and participate in counseling from a Registered Dietitian (RD). An RD has had specific training in food and nutrition and has passed a national exam. He or she is also trained to provide Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT), an evidenced-based nutritional treatment for your specific disease. Specific to oncology, it is also important to select an RD who specializes in oncology nutrition. You can look for the title “Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition” or “CSO” after his or her name. This signifies that the RD has had additional experience and training in oncology; a minimum of 2,000 hours are required in addition to passing a national exam with recertification every 5 years. If you are unable to locate an RD in your area, select the “Find a Nutrition Professional” link to find an oncology nutrition professional in your area. If you do not seek nutrition information from the correct source, you risk receiving incorrect or potentially harmful recommendations during cancer treatment.
What to Discuss With a Nutrition Professional
A typical nutrition consultation will involve several aspects. First, the RD will review your medical records for pertinent nutrition-related issues. He or she will then interview you and ask you questions related to your diet history, medical history, medications, allergies, and nutrition-related symptoms. He or she may also perform a nutrition focused physical examination that examines your oral cavity, height, weight, and body fat percentage. After taking into account all of this subjective and objective information, the RD will design a meal plan and nutrition recommendations specific to your individual nutritional needs. He or she will then ask you to follow-up in a reasonable amount of time in order to achieve the goals that have been set for you. You may be asked to keep a diary of your symptoms or of the foods that you eat in order to help the RD assess how you are meeting your goals.
Key points to remember:
Always seek information from a Registered Dietitian (RD), preferably one who specializes in oncology nutrition (CSO).
Be sure to inform and coordinate with your medical team to implement the recommendations that your RD has provided to you.
Follow-up with your RD in a timely fashion to ensure that you are able to meet your nutrition goals
Keep a food diary of your symptoms or the foods that you eat in a typical day; this will help your RD provide recommendations that are individualized to your nutritional needs.
About Jessica Iannotta:
Jessica A. Iannotta, MS, RD, CSO, CDN, Chief Operating Officer.
Jessica is a registered dietitian and certified specialist in oncology nutrition (CSO). She studied nutrition at Cornell University and completed her dietetic internship at NewYork Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center. She obtained her Master’s degree through the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Jessica has worked in inpatient and outpatient oncology settings since 2001 and currently works part time at North Shore-LIJ Monter Cancer Center. Jessica is in charge of all operations including clinical and culinary operations ranging from menu development to evidence-based website content, relationships with registered dieticians and social workers and developing processes and protocols for intake, management and outcomes analysis of patients.
http://blog.lungevity.org/2014/01/13/ge ... treatment/
