November is National Diabetes Month and at OncoPower we want to raise awareness and educate about this very common disease.  Diabetes is a condition where your body does not regulate your blood sugar correctly. Over time, this disease is known to lead to heart, kidney, nerve, and eye damage. About 30 million people in America have diabetes and 1 in 3 adults have prediabetes.  Since it is so common and can have so many negative effects, many of you may be asking: how does diabetes affect cancer and cancer patients care? 

What Cancers Are More Common in Patients with Diabetes?

There is a large and growing body of evidence which links diabetes to increased cancer risk.  People with diabetes are twice as likely as their non-diabetic counterparts to develop pancreatic, liver, and endometrial cancers.  They are also more likely to develop colorectal, breast, and bladder cancer.  Interestingly, men with diabetes are actually less likely to develop prostate cancer.

How Can Diabetes Affect Cancer Outcomes?

Women with diabetes and breast cancer are more likely to die from the disease, and overall patients with diabetes have higher rates of recurrence and 41% high risk of death than cancer patients without diabetes.  

Scientists believe that there is a link between the increased insulin and increased blood glucose in cancer patients and the development and progression of cancer. Cancer cells primarily use sugar as their fuel, at a much higher rate than non-cancerous cells; in a person with chronically high blood sugar, this could be a cause for tumor growth. Additionally, diabetes is far more likely to develop in patients with excess body fat, and fat tissue is known to secrete hormones and chemicals which increase inflammation and the risk of many types of cancer.  

The treatment for diabetes may also play a part in cancer development, with those who take metformin having a reduced risk of cancer and cancer mortality and those who take insulin having an increased risk of cancer.  The exact cause of the higher risk of cancer and cancer-related death in diabetes is difficult to tease out, as many of the mechanisms overlap and happen at the same time. 

How Can Cancer Treatment Affect Blood Sugar Control?

Cancer treatment types can vary widely and their effect on blood sugar is also variable. For example, steroid use can cause high blood sugar and some chemotherapy drugs can actually induce insulin resistance.  Your cancer care specialist will discuss any risks of your specific treatment with you and address any issues that arise.  

How Can I Improve My Blood Sugar Control? 

Controlling your blood sugar is important to preventing diabetes from developing, or preventing its progression.  Following healthy eating guidelines, like those from the American Cancer Society and the American Diabetes Association, will lead to better blood sugar and weight control, and increased intake of cancer-fighting compounds like antioxidants and phytonutrients.  Key recommendations include: 

  • Move your body with intention for at least 30 minutes a day
    • This can be as simple as walking the dog, cleaning the house, and strolling after a meal
    • The more vigorous the movement, the better the impact 
  • Foods to include:
    • Whole grains like brown rice and oatmeal, which have slow-to-digest carbohydrates that keep you fuller longer and keep your blood sugar stable
    • Fruits and vegetables that are brightly colored, to provide vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to keep your immune system working properly
    • Lean proteins such as fish, chicken, eggs, nuts & seeds, beans, and soy to keep your muscles strong
    • Healthful fats like olive, canola, or avocado oil to provide additional energy and keep you satisfied
    • Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and flush out toxins 
  • Foods to avoid or limit:
    • High sugar foods such as soda pop, candies, and cookies since they cause blood sugar spikes and have very little nutrition 
    • Fatty or fried foods like french fries, steak, cream, and butter as these can lead to high inflammation and are not good for your heart
    • Limit alcohol to one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men

Interested in learning how to control your blood sugar with a cancer diagnosis? Join our community at OncoPower to connect with Registered Dietitians, Oncologists, and other cancer care specialists. You’ll get personalized answers to your most important questions and the cancer support you deserve. 

Protein is an important component of a healthy diet; we need protein to build muscle, maintain our immune system, and heal after injury.  It is important to eat the right amount of protein daily, but there is a much research that shows that the type of protein you are eating is just as important.  According to the USDA, the biggest source of protein in the American diet is red and processed meats, with the average person eating a whopping 73 pounds a year! Keep reading to see if your typical lunch could be affecting your cancer risk. 

What is Red Meat and Processed Meat? 

Red meat includes beef, pork, lamb, goat, and game meats such as venison.  Processed meats are any meats that have been preserved by smoking, salting, curing, or adding chemical additives.  The complete list is long, but notably includes bacon, sausage, prosciutto, hot dogs, and lunchmeat like ham and bologna.

How Does it Affect Cancer Risk? 

Red meat is likely to increase the risk for colon cancer, and there is some evidence linking it to the risk of lung, pancreatic, and prostate cancers.  Processed meat, however, is shown to have a much stronger tie to colon cancer with some evidence showing ties to stomach, lung and pancreatic cancers and even some link to breast and prostate cancers.  The Global Burden of Disease Project determined recently that each year 34,000 cancer deaths globally could be traced to processed meat.

There are a range of ways that red and processed meats could increase the risk of cancer.  First, studies report that the way meat is digested in the gut can induce stress and mutations in cells lining the intestines, leading to higher risk of colon cancer.  Also, it is common to grill meats like hamburgers and hot dogs.  This high heat and smoke can cause different chemicals linked to cancer to form on the meats, which may be carcinogenic in humans. Last, processed meats often contain nitrates, which cause DNA damage and have been shown in animal models to be carcinogenic.

An indirect cause related to red and processed meat is that a high meat diet is often low in many fruits and vegetables. The lack of produce in the diet means there is a lack of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making the immune system less effective at defending against any mutations which may occur.

How Much Meat Should I Be Eating?

Current guidelines from the American Institute for Cancer Research suggest limiting red meat intake to 12-18 oz per week, or eating it three times a week or less. This would look like having carnitas tacos on Tuesday, a sirloin steak on Friday night, and Sunday lamb chops. 

It is important to note that the recommendation is to LIMIT consumption of red meat, not ELIMINATE it entirely. This is good news for all the burger lovers out there.  Red meat is a good source of iron, B12, and protein – it’s not all bad!

Multiple organizations such as the WHO and AICR suggest avoiding processed meats ENTIRELY to keep your cancer risk as low as possible. Chicken sausage or turkey bacon might improve the risk for certain cardiac diseases, but it still is considered processed meat for cancer risk. 

So What Can I Eat?

Has this article left you scratching your head, wondering what is left on the menu? There are many options for protein left, including:

  • Chicken
  • Turkey
  • Eggs
  • Fish
  • Shellfish
  • Beans and legumes
  • Plant proteins such as tofu, tempeh, seitan or edamame

Take this moment as a good opportunity to evaluate your meal choices, make some substitutions, and try something new! Remember, you don’t have to avoid all red meat; just choose it three times a week or less.  And whatever protein you choose, remember that a balanced plate is ¼ protein, ¼ starchy food, and ½ non-starchy vegetables. 

Have questions about how to switch up your proteins for best cancer protection? The Registered Dietitians at OncoPower are here to help you make healthy changes to your diet. Join today to get your cancer-related questions answered. 

A cancer diagnosis can come with all kinds of stress and anxiety, in fact almost one half of cancer patients report anxiety symptoms.  This anxiety can be about the future, your family, treatment and finances – the list may seem endless at times.  A major area of stress for many cancer patients comes during mealtimes, when food is no longer pleasurable.

What is Food Stress? 

Food anxiety or stress is not well defined, but two oncology dietitians defined it as is when fear around food causes unease or distress in the mind or body. All human beings have to eat several times a day in order to sustain themselves.  But for cancer patients, it’s not as simple as walking into the kitchen.  They may be suffering from physical symptoms like mouth sores or diarrhea that make eating painful or embarrassing.  Or they could have mental symptoms like worrying that the foods they ate in the past caused their cancer or what they eat now could ‘feed’ the cancer.  This fear and worry can start restrictive behaviors that lead to not getting enough nourishment, reducing the effectiveness of cancer treatment and survival. 

What are Sources of Food Stress?

Food stress can be caused by internal and external forces.  If you need to use the bathroom right after eating, this can cause you to avoid eating when in social situations or away from home.  If you heard on social media that eating bacon causes colon cancer, you may become a vegetarian and avoid things that once brought you joy.  Or, you could have a friend who gets disappointed or angry when you don’t eat the cookies she brought over.  A coworker could be constantly sending articles on the ketogenic diet in cancer and you don’t know how to politely ask them to stop.  Maybe your cancer treatment made you gain ten pounds and now you don’t like the way your clothes fit.  This is not an exhaustive list, there are dozens of ways that food and nutrition can cause stress during cancer treatment but what’s key is how you address this anxiety.


How Can You Work Through Anxiety?

First of all, you should always tell your cancer care specialists about any symptoms, including emotional ones.  Certain cancer types or treatments can even cause or worsen anxiety symptoms.  To manage your food-related symptoms, often a first line of defense is to keep a food log for a few days, tracking what you are eating and how you feel afterwards.  Keeping ‘safe foods’ on hand which always make you feel good can be beneficial.

Next, be kind and patient with friends and family.  They may bring over food as a way to show their love and support but you may not feel like eating it then, or ever.  Tell them that they are appreciated, and communicate how you are feeling or what foods you may prefer.  Let them know if it would be more helpful for them to run to the store or walk the dog for you, rather than bringing over another casserole.

Last, make sure your nutrition information is coming from a trusted source.  Your physician and your Registered Dietitian are great points of reference, as are university, hospital, or government websites such as the following:

When Should You Seek Help?

You should always feel comfortable bringing any concerns about symptoms to your cancer care team, including those around nutrition and food.  If you find yourself constantly thinking about food, unable to choose a food to eat because you are worried it will make you physically ill, or are losing weight because you aren’t eating enough these are all definitive signs you should ask to speak with a Registered Dietitian and possibly a therapist to help you manage your stress.  Your cancer treatment team is there to support you in whatever way they can.

Do you have questions about food and nutrition during cancer treatment? Join OncoPower and reach out to our cancer physicians and Registered Dietitians, available around the clock.  Our goal is to close gaps between patients and providers by providing seamless, remote care by enhancing cancer support services. 

With Halloween approaching, most people are stocking up on chocolate bars, fruity chews, and other candy to hand out to trick-or-treaters. Though a delicious holiday tradition, many cancer patients are wondering: do these sweet treats do more harm than good? 

What is Sugar and Why Do We Need It?

Sugar is a kind of simple carbohydrate, which means it is digested quickly by the body.  Sugar is in obviously sweet things like soda pop, candy, and baked goods, but is also in healthy foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains.  Every cell in the body, including cancer cells, uses carbohydrates as a main energy source.  Your body doesn’t store many carbohydrates, which is why you need to consume them every day.

Why Do Some People Say Sugar Causes Cancer?

As of this writing, there is no evidence to say that sugar directly causes cancer.  However, there is an indirect link between sugar and cancer.  A diet that is high in sugary foods leads to weight gain and obesity, which leads to high inflammation in the body.  Obesity and inflammation have both been strongly linked to 13 kinds of cancer and in the US, excessive weight is the second largest modifiable risk factor to developing cancer behind smoking. Obesity and excess fat in the body also leads to abnormal levels of specific hormone and signaling molecules, which may have cancer-causing effects.

Because cancer cells use carbohydrates for energy to grow, some people think if they cut out all sugar from their diet then the cancer will shrink and die.  If curing cancer was this easy, there would be no need for chemotherapy drugs! This doesn’t work because your whole body, not just cancer cells, needs carbohydrates in order to make energy. If you don’t eat enough sugar and carbohydrates, your body will break down fat and muscle to make sugar. This tissue breakdown leads to weakness, fatigue, and even malnutrition.  Foods like carrots, strawberries, oatmeal, and milk all contain natural sugars but also contain healthy things like fiber and antioxidants which can be cancer-fighting. It isn’t healthy to get rid of all these foods from your diet, especially when many cancer patients have a hard time eating enough food as it is.

How Much Should You Eat?

Many recommendations for sugar and carbohydrates intake are written in ‘servings per day’ or ‘grams per day’. This level of detail can be confusing to follow in your day-to-day life, but on the nutrition facts label the most important thing to avoid is too much ‘added sugar.’ This is the kind that manufacturers put in foods to make it addictively sweet, and can be a range of things, from the much demonized ‘high-fructose corn syrup’ to ‘brown rice syrup’ but it all means the same thing – sugar.  Overall, you should be limiting the amount of artificially sweet foods and choosing more naturally sweet foods. The American Cancer Society, along with many other trusted sources, suggests following an eating pattern similar to the one below, both to prevent and treat cancer:

  • Include:
    • Whole grains like brown rice and oatmeal, which contain slow-to-digest carbohydrates that keep you fuller longer
    • Fruits and vegetables that are brightly colored, to provide vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to keep your immune system working properly
    • Lean proteins such as fish, chicken, eggs, nuts & seeds, beans, and soy to keep your muscles strong
    • Healthful fats like olive, canola, or avocado oil to provide additional energy and keep you satisfied
    • Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and flush out toxins 
  • Avoid or limit:
    • High sugar foods such as soda pop, candies, and cookies since they provide a lot of energy but very little nutrition 
    • Fatty or fried foods like french fries, steak, cream, and butter as these can lead to high inflammation and are not good for your heart

Sugar is delicious but not very nutritious, especially for cancer patients who need to get the most impact out of every bite.  Do you have specific questions about what changes you should make to your diet to enhance your cancer care? Join OncoPower and reach out to our Registered Dietitians on the app. We look forward to giving you personalized nutrition advice, it’s a treat that can be enjoyed year-round!

Many of us may want to shed a few pounds to look and feel better, but losing weight without trying is a red flag that something unusual is going on in your body. This is a sign to go see your doctor as unintentional weight loss could be a sign that you are malnourished, a condition with many consequences – especially if it comes alongside a cancer diagnosis.


What is Malnutrition?

Malnutrition is when you are getting either too much or too little nutrition in the body, causing the body to not function or perform properly.  In the case of cancer, this is caused almost always by too little nutrition. This can be because the tumor is using up extra energy or because side effects of your cancer treatment are causing you to not eat or drink enough. Cancers such as head and neck, stomach, pancreatic and colorectal have the highest risk of malnutrition because they affect eating, drinking and digestion but research estimates that 30% to 85% of all cancer patients will experience malnutrition at some point¹.  Malnutrition’s key signs are losing weight without trying, loss of appetite, and muscle weakness. 

What are the Effects of Malnutrition?

Being malnourished is something to be avoided as it can lead to decreased ability to tolerate treatment and sometimes stopping treatment early.  It also reduces the strength of the immune system and slows wound healing, which is especially bad if you require surgery to remove a tumor.  Overall, it has a negative effect on your quality of life by making you more tired and weak and could lead to longer stays in the hospital.  This condition increases mortality, with the National Cancer Institute reporting that up to 1 in 5 cancer deaths are related to malnutrition¹.

How Do You Prevent and Treat Malnutrition? 

The most important way to prevent malnutrition is to eat! Sounds easy enough, but if you are having symptoms which affect your appetite, your energy level, or the way your body feels, it can be very hard to get enough to eat. There are many ways to meet this challenge, here are a few main points:

  • Graze all day: Keep snacks around the house and have a bite or two every hour rather than trying to have three large meals a day as usual
  • Make every bite count: If you don’t feel like eating often, make sure when you do it has the most nutrition possible. Choose high fat, high protein snacks like trail mix, protein shakes, or whole fat dairy foods such as cottage cheese and Greek yogurt to keep your energy level up
  • Maintain strength: Aim for protein intake each time you eat to make sure your muscles stay strong. Protein can come from animal sources (chicken, fish, turkey, lean beef, dairy) as well as plants (nuts, seeds, soy)
  • Eat when hungry: If you know you are hungrier in the morning than at night, take advantage of that fact! Make sure you have a king-sized breakfast to make up for a lighter dinner


Making nutrition a priority is always a healthy thing to do, but it is especially important after a cancer diagnosis. If you have any questions on malnutrition or any other topic related to food, join our community and reach out to OncoPower Nutrition on our app today and one of our Registered Dietitians will be happy to help.  Check back soon for our blog post on nutrition-related symptom management for tips on how to eat well when not feeling well.

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8151518/#B24-nutrients-13-01585

Welcome to OncoPower Nutrition

OncoPower is excited to announce Rachel Spencer, MS, RD, CNSC as the new Director of Nutrition. Our team is thrilled to be expanding into the nutrition space, because we know so often one of the first things a newly-diagnosed cancer patient asks is “how are my food choices affecting my illness and treatment?” 

Most patients look for these answers with the help of internet searches instead of asking a health care provider, as very few doctor’s offices have nutrition professionals on staff1.  These search results can be confusing, overwhelming, and sometimes offer conflicting advice – leading many patients to throw up their hands and put off any potentially helpful diet changes.

With the help of our convenient app, OncoPower makes getting answers to your food- and nutrition-related questions as easy as submitting a question and getting a timely response from a qualified Registered Dietitian.  Join today and get your questions answered!

What Should I Know About Cancer Nutrition Right Now?

Research shows that as of 2014, at least 18% of US cancer diagnoses and 16% of cancer-related deaths can be traced to the combination of four risk factors: body weight, physical activity, nutrition, and alcohol intake2.  Recently in June of 2020, the American Cancer Society released an updated version of the Guideline for Diet and Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention. These guidelines provide information on how to reduce these risk factors. Here is a summary of what they say:

  1. Achieve and maintain a healthy body weight throughout life.
    • Ask your doctor what a healthy range is for you, and avoid gaining weight as you get older
  2. Be physically active.
    • Adults should engage in 150-300 minutes of moderate activity per week, or 75-150 minutes of vigorous activity, or a combination of the two; getting over 300 minutes is better
    • Children and teens should get at least 1 hour of moderate to vigorous activity daily
    • Limit time spent sitting, lying down, and watching television or using screens
  3. Follow a healthy eating pattern at all ages.
    • A healthy eating pattern includes:
      • Nutrient dense foods in portion sizes that are appropriate
      • A variety of vegetables—dark green, red, and orange, fiber-rich legumes (beans and peas), and others
      • Fruits, especially fresh fruits with a variety of colors
      • Whole grains
    • A healthy eating pattern limits or does not include:
      • Red and processed meats (sausage and bacon)
      • Sugar-sweetened beverages (soda)
      • Highly processed foods and refined grain products (salty snacks and bakery items)
  4. It is best not to drink alcohol.
    • People who do choose to drink alcohol should limit themselves to no more than 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men

Though these guidelines are for cancer prevention, much of this advice applies to those already diagnosed with cancer. Reach out to OncoPower Nutrition on the app today to see how the foods you eat can affect your cancer care – we look forward to assisting you on your journey.

“In food excellent medicine can be found” – Hippocrates

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6893237/pdf/JO2019-7462940.pdf
  2. https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.3322/caac.21440