STEPS YOU CAN TAKE - Nutrition

A Focus on the Cancer Survivor
Throughout the cancer experience -- from initial treatments and recovery through long-term survivorship -- nutrition appears to be an important component of care and overall health.  The goal for all individuals is to achieve and maintain good nutritional status.  Whether coping with surgery and chemotherapy, or aiming to stay in remission, good nutritional status will contribute to better overall physical and mental health. 

There are three basic indicators of good nutritional status: Healthy body weight and body composition, nutrient requirements are met, and the diet supplies optimal levels of other dietary constituents that are related to health and disease.

For the cancer patient, achieving a good nutritional status can: 

• Increase the likelihood of completing prescribed treatments
• Reduce treatment recovery time
• Improve health-related quality of life
• Reduce risk of developing other diseases, such as heart disease or diabetes
• Possible reduction in risk for recurrence and new primary cancers
• Possible improvement in prognosis and overall survival