Good Nutrition can Help, but Prevention Remains Elusive

Breast-cancer patients vary considerably in their bodies’ reactions to treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation, according to Natalie Fuller, registered dietitian and clinical nutrition manager at Miami Valley Hospital who previously served as an oncology dietician working with the hospital’s cancer patients.

To maintain proper nutrition during treatment, “there is no one magic method — it’s whatever works for the individual, and there will be some trial-and-error involved,” Fuller said.

But for those patients who are nauseous because of their treatments and who may be losing weight, “they can pretty much eat whatever appeals to them, because they need the calories,” Fuller said.

Many patients find that soft foods, served at or close to room temperature, are better than hot or cold foods, she said.

While today’s chemotherapy “is no picnic,” Fuller said, its side effects are not as severe as in previous decades.

So if a patient’s appetite is not affected — and some patients’ appetites aren’t — don’t follow the high-calorie suggestions, she said.

And the eat-what-you-want advice ends when treatment ends, side-effects subside, and appetite returns to normal, Fuller said.

It’s important for cancer patients to maintain a healthy body weight after treatment, because some studies suggest excess weight can be a risk factor in cancer reoccurring, she said.

For post-treatment patients, Fuller suggests avoiding excessive high-calorie, low-nutrition foods such as soda pop and sugar-laden desserts.

Choose plant-based foods instead, because they have nutrients that may protect against a cancer reoccurrence, she said.

The MVH dietitian said exercise is important for all women, whether in treatment, post-treatment, or never been treated for cancer.

Studies suggest three to four hours a week of moderate (walking) to rigorous (running) exercise can be beneficial for increased energy and well-being, Fuller said.

Dr. Susan Williams — medical doctor who served as director of the Center for Nutrition and Metabolic Medicine for Kettering Health Network-Greene Memorial Hospital and treated patients in private practice in Xenia until July 2010, when she accepted a position as staff physician in the Cleveland Clinic’s Medicine Institute — said there is little in the way of scientific studies exploring nutrition for those in the midst of breast-cancer treatment.

“In general, when undergoing any kind of treatment for cancer, a healthy lifestyle — avoiding cigarettes, limiting alcohol intake, balanced diet, adequate sleep, physical activity, and daily meditation or prayer — and positive outlook are imperative,” Williams said.

Women who have never had breast cancer should embrace time-honored dietary practices such as eating more fruits and vegetables and consuming less fat —but they shouldn’t assume that such a diet will single-handedly prevent cancer.

Williams cited a World Cancer Research Fund report in 2007 that concluded no firm judgments can be made about any possible relation between dietary patterns and the risk of cancer.

But a systematic review of studies done since then did suggest there was evidence of a decreased risk of breast cancer in those who followed a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and low in saturated/trans fat, rather than a diet high in animal fats and simple sugars and low in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, she said.

The most convincing evidence for diet-related breast cancer prevention is related to alcohol, Williams said.

Studies have established that as many as one out of five breast cancer cases are attributable to consuming at least two alcoholic beverages on a daily basis, she said.

There have been some intriguing studies examining Vitamin D and calcium and their potential roles in breast cancer prevention, the Cleveland clinic staff physician said.

Some studies found a clear benefit to taking calcium and vitamin D supplements, while other studies did not confirm these findings.

But in general, Williams said, the overall results suggest that adequate intake of vitamin D and calcium are associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer.

Williams stressed, however, that those who are considering starting supplements should talk with their doctor first, because there are “some conditions and circumstances under which taking additional calcium and/or Vitamin D could prove to be harmful,” she said.