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Making Every Bite Count

Cancer Nutrition Services

A cancer diagnosis leaves one feeling out of control. Taking charge of dietary and nutritional needs can help. Advice about the best foods to eat or the most popular supplements to swallow seems to be everywhere. This information can be overwhelming and potentially dangerous.

That's where the registered dietitians at the U-M Cancer Center can help. Specially trained in the field of oncology nutrition, they focus on assessing the individual dietary and nutrition needs of each patient and providing practical, scientifically sound assistance, such as:

• Managing Eating Problems
• Nutrition Tips
• Recipes
• Resources

Note: Please go to Cancer Prevention and Nutrition for information on how what you eat impacts your risk for developing cancer.

Cancer Center Recipes Just for You!
This new feature will help you include the recommended daily amount of fruit & vegetables in your diet!

The Cancer Center's nutrition staff understands that food can become an ally in the fight against cancer. By helping patients understand the latest scientific research about nutrition and giving personalized written guidelines, our dietitians work to:

• Prevent or correct nutritional deficiencies
• Minimize the side effects of treatment
• Enhance quality of life during treatment
• Improve ability to tolerate treatment
• Help achieve and maintain optimal body weight
• Incorporate healthy nutrition habits into daily living
• Evaluate the risks and benefits of nutrition into a comprehensive plan to minimize risk of recurrence following treatment
• Educate family members about special nutrition needs

Meet with a Dietitian

Consultation with a member of the Nutrition Services team is offered to all U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center patients. Dietitians offer services to both adult and pediatric patients and family members. Our nutritionists work with individuals to develop food strategies, not strict, hard-to-follow meal plans. By looking at the foods patients and their families eat now and learning about the challenges they may face during treatment, they help set goals that can be reached. Better nutrition isnt a matter of avoiding "bad" foods, but about making gradual changes and increasing the variety of the diet. The focus is on seeing steady improvements and on playing an active role in one's treatment.

Adult patients may be referred by a member of their care team or may contact the Nutrition Services department directly by calling 734-936-6000.

Pediatric patients typically are counseled during clinic on Tuesdays and Fridays. Ask your care provider to arrange a convenient consultation time.

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Cancer Center Recipes Just for You! This new feature will help you include the recommended daily amount of fruit & vegetables in your diet!

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University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
1500 East Medical Center Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48109

This site is part of the U-M Health System. The information presented is not a tool for self diagnosis or a substitute for professional care. © 2008 U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center