Cancer treatment can leave patients feeling far from their best and maintaining an optimal diet can be the furthest thing from their minds. The benefits of healthy and balanced nutrition can be profound, though, which is why CancerCare offers nutritional advice services to those who need it.
CancerCare client Lynne Newlove was diagnosed with stage-two breast cancer towards the end of 2023. Lynne received nutritional support from CancerCare Nutritional Therapist Debra and after only three sessions, Lynne noticed a significant improvement in her health.
Lynne recalled her initial diagnosis: “I had a mammogram in the October before I was diagnosed in November, around the time of my birthday.”
Lynne experienced further trauma when the nipple on the breast she had surgery on needed removing. The tissue became infected and consequently died, resulting in Lynne requiring emergency surgery to remove the nipple.
“I was going to the hospital every day for treatment and was on strong antibiotics for about six weeks,” Lynne said.
Lynne first heard about CancerCare when she attended the breast care unit.
“I hadn’t been eating healthy at all, and I wanted to start feeling like myself again,” Lynne said. “I had a hernia and was encouraged by my surgeon to lose weight, too. Due to an ongoing health condition, I hadn’t been eating a varied diet, mainly sticking to the same foods. I was rigid about what I ate and I consequently wasn’t getting enough vitamins or minerals.”
Debra opened Lynne’s eyes to small changes she could make, including increasing her daily activity and ensuring she included a broad spectrum of food colours on her plate at each meal.
“Debra said I should aim to have plenty of colour on my plate, instead of looking at specific foods to include; for example, as I didn’t like green vegetables, I could have lettuce or salad as the green component,” she said. “My partner and I also reduced how often we drank on social occasions, and I became more mindful with my movement. The main thing was that all these ideas stemmed from me; Debra didn’t tell me what I can and cannot eat but encouraged me to make small changes based on achievable goals.”
Lynne has now lost over a stone in scale weight and she feels mentally lighter, too.
“Coming to the sessions and chatting to Debra was also like therapy,” Lynne added. “I feel so much better now and the experience has been so good for me.”
For more information on dietary services offered by CancerCare, please visit our website or get in touch with our friendly team via email tct@cancercare.org.uk.