Cancer: Nutritional support before, during and after treatment and beyond

Nutrition practitioners working with people diagnosed with cancer need to understand the characteristics of cancers as a group of diseases, and the range of treatments their clients may receive. Patient journeys and cancer treatments are evolving considerably, with targeted treatments, biological drugs and immunotherapy drugs used extensively, as well as traditional ‘mainstay’ treatments of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery. Treatment regimens are adding years to life, while supporting techniques including nutrition and lifestyle medicine are supporting quality of life.

Professional nutrition practitioners need additional skills beyond their primary qualification, to meet the needs of working in this clinical field. Nutrition professionals also need to develop skills to effectively communicate and collaborate with medical teams to support their clients in an integrative paradigm.

ION’s intensive three-day course is designed to help practitioners develop skills and gain confidence in working with clients affected by a range of cancers, to deliver personalized nutrition and lifestyle advice. This course provides a foundation for further understanding and exploration, and for those already working in this field it provides consolidation and update of knowledge and skills. As well as theoretical aspects of cancer, specific cases will be used to illustrate appropriate nutritional support alongside typical treatment regimens used in common cancers including gastrointestinal, breast, prostate, ovarian, lung and head and neck cancers and melanoma.

This course...

Is:
A three day online live course

Is for:
qualified nutritional therapy practitioners, nutritionists, dieticians, naturopaths, and other qualified healthcare practitioners. Final year nutrition students will also be welcome. The course is centred on personalised nutrition, applying functional medicine approaches to health and well-being in an integrative manner for those affected by cancer.

Is led by: Dr Carol Granger, DProf FBANT

Spans: 3 days

Provides:
ION CPD 15 hours [where a participant has been active on the webinar for 15 hours]
15 hours BANT, NNA and NTOI CPD.

By the end of the course, you will be able to have :
• A deeper and more systematic understanding of cancer pathogenesis and development; the roles of inherited and modifiable factors; how diagnosis and treatment decisions are routinely made and a greater familiarity with routine oncology terminology.
• An understanding of the emerging field of precision oncology
• An increased critical appreciation of current research in relation to dietary and lifestyle risk and protective factors for different cancers; mechanisms of action and implications for nutritional recommendations throughout the cancer journey.
• An understanding of the use of cancer treatments of chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy, and the newer targeted and biological treatments including immunotherapy.
• A greater ability to apply evidence in the development of dietary recommendations, tests, and supplements for clients receiving different types of cancer treatments.
• A greater awareness and ability to consider elements of the therapeutic relationship including safety, legal, ethical issues, professional boundary setting; when to refer to other practitioners or medical professionals and how to develop effective medical collaborations.
• A greater ability to analyse clinical cases more effectively and to communicate with oncology specialists.

Day 1 - Cancer pathophysiology, terminology and overview of treatment modalities
The first day of this intensive course for qualified practitioners will begin with a detailed focus on cancer as a disease process. We will frame this within the functional medicine model and begin to unpack the evidence around modifiable factors. We will then have an overview of treatment modalities as a foundation for detailed examination of their application. Finally, we will examine the position of registered nutritional therapy practitioners in the care of people affected by cancer.

Day 2 – Integrative nutrition and lifestyle support through the cancer journey starts with the gut
The second day of this intensive course for qualified practitioners will begin with an exploration of the involvement of the intestinal tract and associated organs in cancer. We will explore some common cancers that affect these organs and case studies will illustrate how mainstay treatments impact their function. Interactions with the gut in hormone-driven cancers will explore how nutritional interventions can have wider impact, using a case study to explore support for gut health in long term treatments.

Day 3 - Integrative nutrition support through the cancer journey alongside immune and targeted therapies.
The final day of this intensive course for qualified practitioners will examine some common cancers that are treated with immunotherapy and targeted treatments. We will explore examples of ovarian cancer, lung cancer, head and neck cancers and melanoma, and discuss the evidence for safe support of clients affected by these cancers, using case studies. We will conclude the day with a discussion on working effectively and collaboratively in the care of people affected by cancer.