Diet Therapy

One of the most crucial aspects in supporting the care of cancer patients is diet. Diet is a critical factor in the development of cancer and its prevention. Conventional treatments for cancer focus solely on treating the tumor or cancer cells with little emphasis on the whole health of the individual including their diet. Most patients undergoing treatment are either not advised on what to eat or are told to eat as much as they can regardless the type of food. It is important to undertake specialized dietary changes that take into consideration current conventional treatments, your state of health and progression of the disease.

All cancer patients at Marsden Centre receive detailed instruxction and support to  ensure successful adoption of dietary recommendations. Our providers will not only review the dietary advice prescribed by naturopathic doctors at the centre, but also provide added detail on how to make the diet work in your lifestyle. Items reviewed are menu plans, recipes, shopping assistance, dealing with cravings, and much more. Here are some of the benefits provided by dietary therapy at Marsden Centre:

1. Maintaining a healthy weight – Weight loss in cancer patients is common and can lead to serious consequences. The diets at Marsden Centre are aimed at maintaining a healthy weight. Unfortunately, many other diets purported to assist in fighting cancer can cause patients to become malnourished and lead to immune inhibition and overall reduced treatment response.

2. Reduce the potential negative effects of diet on cancer growth – We know that higher insulin levels can adversely affect cancer growth and invasion. At the Marsden Centre we provide aggressive dietary intervention aimed at reducing insulin levels while ensuring adequate caloric and nutrient intake.

3. Diets to Support Conventional Treatments – Many conventional therapies have significant side effects which can result in malnourishment and immune suppression. Our dietary approach can be tailored to support whichever conventional intervention patients are receiving and help improve tolerance and increase treatment success

4. Reduce Toxic Burden – Over time, our bodies can accumulate toxins from the foods we eat and from our surrounding environment. These toxins can act as carcinogens, or cancer causing agents. By improving our diet, we can reduce the number of toxins individuals exposed to and reduce the potential impact on cancer recurrence and/or progression.

5. Boosts the immune system – Foods are our fuel. Without the proper nutrients, the immune system cannot work at its peak and effectively attack cancer processes from within.

 Diet therapy at Marsden Centre can lead to a better quality of life, improved tolerance to chemotherapy and radiation, and a greater chance of overall survival.

There are three general diet recommendations we make at the Marsden Centre. Here is a brief overview of suggestions for dietary changes during cancer treatment (click on a link to download a copy of the dietary advice):

Prevention Diet: advice for individuals who want to reduce their risk of developing cancer, preventing recurrence or preventing any major chronic degenerative illness.

Aggressive Cancer Diet: advice on a treatment diet aimed at reducing carbohydrate load and insulin levels (not to be done without physician supervision)

Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy Diet: advice for individuals undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment. Our aim with this diet is to encourage the intake of easy to digest and nutrient dense foods.