Altering Diet, Physical Activity in Patients With Cancer History May be Aided by Lifestyle Medicine Clinics

Article
Conference|Oncology Nursing Society’s Annual Meeting (ONS)

Advanced practice nurses and dieticians are encouraged to empower patients to improve their lifestyles through diet and exercise in a presentation at the Oncology Nursing Society’s 46th Annual Congress.

Patients with a history of cancer may learn more about their health behaviors and improve outcomes if given the chance to participate in a lifestyle medicine clinic with advanced practice nurses and dietitians, according to data presented in a poster at the Oncology Nursing Society’s 46th Annual Congress.

A third of all cancer cases in the United States are linked to diet and lifestyle, and an estimated 70% of all cancer survivors in this country are overweight or obese, according to the presentation. Diet and lifestyle counseling are a component of national guidelines for cancer prevention.

“An oncology advanced practice nurse and dietician-led lifestyle medicine clinic really complements the standard cancer follow-up visit by expanding upon evidence-based health behaviors counseling to empower patients and improve outcomes,” Loren Winters, MSN, ANP-BC, OCN, oncology nurse practitioner at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, said during the presentation. “Oncology nurses within the oncology care team share a key role in providing cancer-specific, evidence-based information and resources to aid in recovery after cancer treatment as well as to promote health behaviors. Typical cancer follow-up visits are time-limited and often do not allow for a comprehensive lifestyle behaviors assessment and counseling.”

With the help of Carol Sullivan, MS, RD, CSO, LDN, senior clinical nutritionist at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Winters and the lifestyle medicine multidisciplinary team at her institution created a program for patients with a history of cancer. The program was predominantly led by an advanced practice oncology nurse and an oncology registered dietician.

Once patients are referred to this program by their cancer team, they underwent consultations focused on education and motivation. These consultations emphasized the importance of a whole food plant-forward diet, restorative sleep, regular physical activity, avoidance of risky substances, stress management and positive social connections. Based on needs, patients had free access to webinars, exercise videos and referrals to other specialists or supportive care programs. All of these visits are now conducted through telehealth platforms due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Winters and Sullivan received some insightful feedback on the program including that it had an empowering effect on them and it was specifically tailored to their needs.

“Future directions include shared medical or group visits to improve the patient experience by providing an interactive setting in which patients can learn and inspire each other to adopt lasting health behavior change,” Winters said during her presentation.

Reference

Winters L. An Advanced Practice Nurse and Registered Dietician Led Lifestyle Medicine Clinic. Presented at: Oncology Nursing Society 46th Annual Congress. April 20, 22, 27 & 29, 2021. Virtual.


Related Videos
Tailoring neoadjuvant therapy regimens for patients with mismatch repair deficient gastroesophageal cancer represents a future step in terms of research.
Not much is currently known about the factors that may predict pathologic responses to neoadjuvant immunotherapy in this population, says Adrienne Bruce Shannon, MD.
Data highlight that patients who are in Black and poor majority areas are less likely to receive liver ablation or colorectal liver metastasis in surgical cancer care.
Findings highlight how systemic issues may impact disparities in outcomes following surgery for patients with cancer, according to Muhammad Talha Waheed, MD.
Pegulicianine-guided breast cancer surgery may allow practices to de-escalate subsequent radiotherapy, says Barbara Smith, MD, PhD.
Adrienne Bruce Shannon, MD, discussed ways to improve treatment and surgical outcomes for patients with dMMR gastroesophageal cancer.
Barbara Smith, MD, PhD, spoke about the potential use of pegulicianine-guided breast cancer surgery based on reports from the phase 3 INSITE trial.
Patient-reported symptoms following surgery appear to improve with the use of perioperative telemonitoring, says Kelly M. Mahuron, MD.
Treatment options in the refractory setting must improve for patients with resected colorectal cancer peritoneal metastasis, says Muhammad Talha Waheed, MD.
Although immature, overall survival data from the KEYNOTE-868 trial may support the use of pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy in patients with endometrial cancer.
Related Content
Investigators also look to assess linvoseltamab in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma as part of the phase 3 LINKER-MM3 trial.

Linvoseltamab Shows Responses, Safety in Relapsed/Refractory Myeloma

April 10th 2024
Article

Investigators also look to assess linvoseltamab in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma as part of the phase 3 LINKER-MM3 trial.

Combining anastrozole with palbociclib, trastuzumab, and pertuzumab as a frontline therapy for hormone receptor–positive, HER2-positive breast cancer may avoid some of the toxicities associated with chemotherapy, says Amy Tiersten, MD.

Frontline Chemo-Free Regimen Supported in HR+/HER2+ Breast Cancer Therapy

January 1st 2024
Podcast

Combining anastrozole with palbociclib, trastuzumab, and pertuzumab as a frontline therapy for hormone receptor–positive, HER2-positive breast cancer may avoid some of the toxicities associated with chemotherapy, says Amy Tiersten, MD.

Data from the phase 1/2 KRYSTAL-1 trial may support adagrasib plus cetuximab as a new standard in previously treated metastatic KRAS G12C–mutated CRC.

Adagrasib Combo Yields Encouraging Responses in KRAS G12C–Mutated CRC

April 9th 2024
Article

Data from the phase 1/2 KRYSTAL-1 trial may support adagrasib plus cetuximab as a new standard in previously treated metastatic KRAS G12C–mutated CRC.

Experts from University of California, Los Angeles Health and Mayo Clinic discuss key data presented at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in the gynecologic and gastrointestinal cancer spaces and how they may impact patient care.

Oncology On-The-Go Podcast: ASCO 2023 Recap

June 19th 2023
Podcast

Experts from University of California, Los Angeles Health and Mayo Clinic discuss key data presented at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in the gynecologic and gastrointestinal cancer spaces and how they may impact patient care.

Patients with advanced solid tumors may be able to stay on treatment with saruparib longer compared with other approved PARP inhibitors, thereby improving efficacy.

Saruparib Shows Favorable Activity, Safety in Mutant Advanced Solid Tumors

April 8th 2024
Article

Patients with advanced solid tumors may be able to stay on treatment with saruparib longer compared with other approved PARP inhibitors, thereby improving efficacy.

Retrospective findings may establish a “framework” for improving the accessibility, timeliness, and appropriateness of surgical cancer care in disadvantaged areas.

Combatting Cancer Surgery Disparities Due to Racial-Economic Segregation

April 8th 2024
Article

Retrospective findings may establish a “framework” for improving the accessibility, timeliness, and appropriateness of surgical cancer care in disadvantaged areas.