"As an outpatient  oncology dietitian, my role in supporting newly diagnosed, current treatment, and survivorship patients is to meet them where they are. A lot of factors can influence a patient's dietary choices, such as culture, food availability, the ability to eat, allergies or intolerances, and other existing health issues.

 

I firmly believe in the "whole person" approach to care. The dietitian is part of an integrated care team. If there are financial or personal issues affecting a patient's diet, I refer them to out team's social worker for counseling. If a patient is struggling to eat or can't physically eat, I work with the doctor or nurse practitioner to help ensure that my patient -- our  patient -- gets the nutrition he or she needs to stay as strong as possible. 

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Assessing a patient's readiness to change is an important part of my role. After receiving the overwhelming news that he or she has cancer, a patient may not be ready to face making the necessary steps to change his or her nutrition right away. I reassure patients that they don't have to completely overhaul their diets today. I encourage them to eat small, preferably SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-based) goals towards improving their food choices. For example, a patient who doesn't consume any fruits or vegetables may be encouraged to explore her local grocery store's produce section and identify one or two fruits or vegetables that he or she could easily add to their current meal plan and build from there. Together, I work with my patients to help them take small, positive steps toward a healthier diet by focusing on what they can add to their diets, versus what the need to take away. We're on this journey together. 

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My role is to identify gaps within the patient's diet and help him or her set goals to fill those gaps in a way that fits with his or her lifestyle and encourages health and vitality."