Nutrition
Nutrition services for cancer patients in New Orleans
Nutrition is an essential component of cancer treatment. Proper nutrition is vital because cancer patients often have poor appetites. Touro is dedicated to helping you make an effort to eat the right kinds of foods. Our team of doctors, nurses, and nutritionists will help you determine what type of foods you should be eating, as well as how much of them is right for you. Eating well means a balanced diet that provides you with all the nutrients you need to maintain your health during your cancer journey. Getting a balanced diet of protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water can help you feel better and stay stronger during your cancer treatment. Eating well while you’re being treated can help you feel better, keep your weight up, decrease your risk of infection, maintain your strength and energy, overcome treatment-related side effects, and heal and recover from treatment faster.
Tips for eating well during your cancer treatment
Knowing you should be eating well and knowing how to eat well are two different things. People who eat a balanced diet can often cope with the physical side effects of cancer treatment better than those who don’t. Here are some helpful tips for maintaining a healthy diet during your cancer treatment:
Cancer Prevention Nutrition Before Treatment Nutrition Guidelines During Treatment
Eating a healthy diet after your treatment
After your cancer treatments are completed, you may still experience a lack of appetite as well as difficulty swallowing or weight loss. For these reasons, it’s crucial to maintain a healthy diet after your treatment is finished. A dietitian can assist you in creating a balanced meal plan. Keep up a healthy diet after treatment by eating plenty of fruits and vegetables as well as high-fiber foods, reducing your fat intake, reducing or cutting out alcohol, and limiting salty, smoked, and pickled foods.
To learn more about Touro’s nutritional support or a nutritional consultation contact Liz Cabrera, RD at 504.668.3753.
Patient testimonials
I believe that as a survivor, I'm here to help other survivors let other survivors know that they can make it through.
I have a family that’s with me all the way. As I walk through my treatment, they walk with me.
It’s amazing how much laughter can happen in an oncology department, but we’ve got such a great team at Touro.
The mental health part of this is what I don’t think people realize, especially the after part.
Breast cancer, while you're pregnant, can be very aggressive. My pregnancy was feeding my cancer.
I really feel like my cancer was for a reason, it may be I need to be the voice for future generations.
I'm now a survivor who looks at others and goes "You can make it".
I'm more than a survivor. I'm in for the long haul and I feel like I'm going to do this and there's no stopping me.