Nutrition and Cancer Archives

Nutrition and Cancer Thrive through nutrition

June 5, 2026 Word for Word Media

Here are simple ways to manage malnutrition and maintain a healthy weight during cancer care.

Short on time? Listen to the audio version of this article here, or by using your favourite podcast player

Nutrition is essential in your cancer treatment and recovery process because cancer treatments can overwhelm your nutrient reserves resulting in malnutrition. Some 40 to 80% of cancer patients will experience malnutrition at some point during treatment. Weight loss of as little as 6% can affect how you respond to treatment and your quality of life.1,2 How to manage your nutrition…

Cancer Care Surgery support through nutrition

December 1, 2025 Word for Word Media

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Meagan Atcheson educates us on how to prepare the body for healing after surgery through nourishment.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

A strong foundation for recovery For many people living with cancer, surgery is an important part of treatment. Whether it’s to remove a tumour, take a biopsy, or help relieve symptoms, surgery places extra stress on the body both physically and emotionally. What you may not realise, however, is that nutrition can make a powerful difference in how well you recover. When you nourish your body with the right nutrients…

Nutrition and Cancer Fuel for the fight

October 1, 2025 Word for Word Media

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Dietitian, Meagan Atcheson, highlights the power of nutritional support in cancer care.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

Why nutrition matters during and after treatment When facing a cancer diagnosis, treatment often becomes the central focus—whether it’s chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, immunotherapy, or a combination. But one vital aspect of care that sometimes gets overlooked is nutrition. What you eat and how well you are nourished can play a significant role not only in how your body copes with treatment but also in recovery and quality of…

Nutrition and Cancer LIFEGAIN® Protein-to-the-Max Smoothie

June 2, 2025 Word for Word Media

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Sneak in your greens the delicious way with this Protein-to-the-Max Smoothie. You’ll never guess it’s packed with spinach, zucchini and LIFEGAIN® Advanced Nutritional Supplement. This refreshing blend is perfect for those looking for a creamy, plant-based option packed with vitamins and minerals.

Servings: 1

Ingredients: 6

Total time: 5 minutes

INGREDIENTS 200ml unsweetened almond milk (alternatively you can also use water) 2 scoops (30g) LIFEGAIN® Advanced Nutritional Supplement Vanilla 1 (80g) zucchini 40g pineapple, fresh or frozen 2 cups baby spinach 1 level Tbs (13g) hemp seeds…

Nutrition and Cancer Malnutrition and oral nutritional supplements

June 2, 2025 Word for Word Media

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Dr Daleen Geldenhuys, an oncologist, helps us understand the causes of malnutrition while Meagan Atcheson, a dietitian, speaks on the role of oral nutritional supplements in oncology care.

Nutrition is a subject that everyone has an interest in and often have strong opinions about what is healthy and unhealthy. Public interest is at an all-time high and opinions are shared with cancer patients, albeit in a well-meaning manner. As you get older, loosing muscle and bone mass become key areas where supplements to your dietary intake are emphasised. Patients with certain illnesses, such as emphysema (lung…

Nutrition and Cancer More than everyday nutrition

April 1, 2024 Word for Word Media

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We learn the factual reasons behind why you need more than everyday nutrition when facing a cancer diagnosis and treatment.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

This is why day-to-day management of your emotional and physical well-being is of utmost importance.2 Focusing on nutritional support will help your body during treatment.3 When you have cancer, your body’s requirements for nutrients increase, which highlights the importance of including a variety of foods from all food groups daily to assist you to get all…

Nutrition and Cancer Diet and active colon cancer treatment

May 31, 2023 Word for Word Media

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Meagan Atcheson expands on diet and active colon cancer treatment.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

When you are faced with a colorectal cancer diagnosis, nutrition can be an important part of your journey. Eating a well-balanced diet during and after cancer treatment can help you feel better, maintain strength, and speed your recovery. Treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery for colorectal cancer can often contribute to unintentional weight loss. It’s important to avoid excess weight loss during treatment as poor nutrition status can decrease the body’s ability to fight infection. Eat small, frequent meals…

Nutrition and Cancer The importance of sound nutrition after a cancer diagnosis

July 29, 2022 Word for Word Media

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Dietitian, Berna Harmse, educates us on nutritional status and the outcome of cancer, and offers tips for nausea. Being diagnosed with cancer is a devastating event, and most people living with cancer, experience the day they get the news as a life-changing moment. Even after working in the field of oncology nutrition for 18 years, seeing a newly diagnosed person is always a humbling experience. After the news has settled in, and treatment plans have been laid out, the day-to-day management of your emotional and physical well-being is of utmost importance. The effects of cancer and its treatment can…

Nutrition and Cancer Diet and your heart

August 2, 2021 Word for Word Media

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Dietitian, Berna Harmse, shares a diet checklist to help prevent or slow down the development of heart disease. Cardiovascular disease is a combination of illnesses of the heart, blood and arteries. High cholesterol, arteriosclerosis (hardening of arteries), heart failure, heart attacks and strokes are part of this. Cholesterol Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is both made by the liver and absorbed from our diet. When there is an excess amount of cholesterol in the blood, small amounts can start to collect on the inner walls of the arteries. This causes the artery walls to harden and thicken, decreasing the…

Nutrition and Cancer Red meat – friend or foe?

March 29, 2021 Word for Word Media

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Global meat consumption and cancer diagnoses are on the rise. Is there a correlation to red meat? Annica Rust examines this. Recent studies found an association between a high intake of red meat and/or processed meat products and cancer; especially colon, breast and prostate cancer.3 What does this mean? Do you have to give up red meat completely after being diagnosed with cancer? Animal foods, such as red meat, fish, poultry and dairy, are good sources of protein, but take into consideration that their fat content varies substantially. The intake of these products will contribute to your daily requirements of iron, zinc,…

Nutrition and Cancer Nutritional support during cancer treatment

February 4, 2021 Word for Word Media

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We learn how nutritional support can help manage side effects during cancer treatment. A cancer diagnosis is a life-changing event. As you navigate this challenging time, it may be reassuring to know that your reactions are natural but also to be informed that there are different ways to manage the emotional and physical impacts of your condition. Focusing on nutritional support will help your body during treatment. Treatment options for cancer may take a lot out of your body and the side effects can make this harder. These treatment options may cause you to lose your appetite and energy,…

Nutrition and Cancer Getting your kitchen spring ready

September 30, 2019 Word for Word Media

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Berna Harmse helps you get your kitchen and diet ready for the warmer months. Declutter – get rid of all the junk in your kitchen Processed sugary and fatty goods should be enjoyed sparingly. Here are items that must not be part of your weekly grocery shopping: Processed and refined carbohydrates Sugary sweets and cakes, biscuits or tarts Potato and maize-based chips Sugar-based sauces Crumbed frozen meat and fish products Pastries Sugar-coated breakfast cereals Nuts that are roasted, salted, or sugar-coated Milk chocolates Cool drinks and cordials The kitchen essentials Dairy Milk, and reduced-fat cheese (cottage cheese, feta, goats cheese and…