Nutritional Strategies for Cancer Patients: Insights from 2 Experts in Oncology Nutrition

Nutritional Strategies for Cancer Patients: Insights from 2 Experts in Oncology Nutrition | TARGET: Cancer Podcast | Ep. 57

In this episode, Dr. Sanjay Juneja discusses the impact of herbal supplementation, dietary supplementation, and diets on cancer outcomes. He is joined by Dr. Krystle Zuniga and Dr. Laura Kerns, who provide valuable insights based on their expertise in cancer nutrition. The episode covers topics such as the importance of protein and vitamins, the role of mushrooms and supplements and the benefits of a plant-based diet, also addresses common questions about red meat, dairy, and the gut microbiome.

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00:00 Introduction
02:59 Does diet affect cancer outcomes?
05:36 Importance of nutrition during cancer treatment
09:42 Mushrooms and supplements
29:22 Ketogenic Diet

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#cancertreatment #nutrition #supplements #ketogenicdiet

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— ABOUT DR LAURA KERNS —

Laura Kerns is a Senior Clinical Dietitian and certified specialist in oncology nutrition. She has spent almost ten years working exclusively in oncology and joined the Ochsner team in December 2019. Her current areas of focus are head and neck cancers, hepatocellular carcinoma, weight management, survivorship, integrative medicine, and social determinants of health. Laura was one of the recipients of the Abbott Nutrition Alliance Award for her work in malnutrition. She was also named a New Orleans HealthCare Hero in 2019 for her work in food insecurity. Additionally, she is involved in clinical research using diet interventions for hepatocellular carcinoma, head and neck cancers, and breast cancer.

— ABOUT DR KRYSTLE ZUNIGA —

She has over 14 years of experience in nutrition and cancer, encompassing research, higher education, and clinical practice. She finds fulfillment in assuming various roles as a clinician, educator, scientist, and science communicator. Education, empowerment, and empathy serve as the cornerstone of her work.
Through her experience, she has observed a critical gap in nutrition support for cancer survivors, both during and after treatment. The task of finding quality nutrition information has become increasingly challenging amidst the rise of misinformation and disinformation. Rather than passively observing the issue worsen, she endeavors to combat misinformation, disseminate the latest research in nutrition and cancer, and translate scientific knowledge into practical actions survivors can adopt to bolster their health and quality of life through nutrition.
She is dedicated to establishing Cancer Nutrition HQ as a central hub of evidence-based resources and tools for patients, survivors, caregivers, and healthcare providers.

— ABOUT DR SANJAY JUNEJA —

Dr. Sanjay Juneja is a triple board-certified Hematologist & Medical Oncologist serving as Chief of Oncology Service at Baton Rouge General Hospital, a social & news media personality known as the 'TheOncDoc' with over half a million followers, and one of fifteen social media doctors participating in the Healthcare Leaders in Social Media Round Table Series for the White House.

He has been featured by The Washington Post as well as dozens of national podcasts and regional news channels (PBS, CBS, NBC, NPR), and has given keynote speeches and partnered with American Cancer Society, BeTheMatch, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Harvard University, Louisiana Department of Health and several others.

— ABOUT xCURES —

xCures Inc. operates an AI-assisted platform that automatically retrieves and aggregates medical records from any US care site. Data is extracted and structured within 15 minutes, to offer a sophisticated view of a patient’s fully longitudinal health journey that encompasses everything from genomics to social determinants of health.

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[ai-and-healthcare]

We have upcoming interviews with top cancer specialists on new treatment innovations. Subscribe and enable notifications to be the first to know when new episodes are available!

[adouglas]

As a cancer survivor and healthcare clinician, it is becoming abundantly clear that first, our clinicians and dieticians need to unlearn their initial training. They keep going back to old ways of knowing.

[cassieoz]

I can guarantee my inflammatory symptoms (arthritis, pain) with come back with a vengence if i eat (most) fruits, legumes and starchy veg.

[HKnSLK]

In the context of chemo, did you guys mention fasting at all? I believe it's a huge factor to lessen the side effects of chemo and make it more effective (allowing to use lower doses).

[janeaustentv]

Love how this podcast gets straight to the point with key areas. Excellent take ways for cancer treatments.Thank you

[laurelmartone]

I want to know if either of these women have helped anyone survive Glioblastoma for longer than 18 months with their plant-based/low-meat advice? Whereas, patients on ketogenic/carnivore diets have survived Glioblastoma 9+ years.

[mikerudd]

Hey Cancer Onc Doc.. your opinion on sugar after your diagnosis with stage 4. NET cancer. MY docs have said no influence. I now disagree after being on a no carb no sugar diet for 8 months. I am doing much better all around. Next scan in April. So many great changes for my body . Your thoughts?

[rnla]

Sadly, my least favorite interview. I always appreciate your work because you reach and think outside the box. These two ladies are very much conventional and following all the 'approved' advice that they're 'allowed' to give. Mainstream yawn from both of them. Redo this video with some Integrative and alternative minds and see what the pulse is beyond the hospital walls, it's vast and the discussion would be Gold!

[mrpad]

This all seems like such good advice, and with caveats expressed well. A good presentation.
As a cancer 'survivor' (post 5 years) I did not use chemotherapy or organ-removal surgeries (tumor removal only) I noticed that there was talk of supplementation/lifestyle and diet as possibly having a negative effect on conventional cancer treatments.
I would add that successful supplementation/lifestyle and diet is equally likely to be affected negatively by conventional cancer treatments.
It's as if no-one wants to state that rather obvious possibility.
But, obvious it is!

[HKnSLK]

Going plant based will limit how much you can reduce your carbohydrates, won't it? Don't you want as low a GKI as possible? (See the work of Dr. Seyfried)

[tedmetre]

my oncology doctor just told me my diet did not matter related to cancer treatment. thanks for this podcast i learned so much good info...thanks....

[melanieadcock]

Going through chemo/immunotheraphy for breast cancer right now. My two biggest issues right now are the pain from Neulasta injection (Claritin doesn't help) and eating/drinking the 10 days following chemo. I had anosmia/parosmia prior to cancer diagnosis. Chemo makes everything including water taste like feces/rotten meat/bottom of the dumpster. I've lost 25lbs since the beginning of the year. I did find Orgain organic nutrition shake in vanilla this week. It is the only thing I can taste (vanilla) and doesn't have artificial sweeteners. I have a list of supplements but it is hard to take the fat soluble vitamins when you can't eat. I also love water but I struggle to even sip it. I've tried adding flavorings but nothing helps. My nutritionist and naturopath both want to help but at this point I just want to keep from losing more weight.

[judithcrotty]

Great topic. Well explained. Very helpful. Thanks so much!!😊

[cognitivechaos]

And you're definitely losing a lot of muscle on a plant based diet

[williamhenry]

I WANT TO SCREAM ! ! Every "so called" health expert says not to eat red meat but THEY DON'T talk about fed lot meat standing in 6 inches of poop, pumped up with antibiotics and steroids and fed GMO soy and corn. They don't talk about VERY HEALTHY grass fed beef. I'm 75 years old with NO HEALTH ISSUES and have never had a prescription in my life. One sick day in 1969. I eat red meat. Still have the same 29" waist I had when I graduated High School in 1967.

[HL-qvyd]

It wasn't clear which herbs increase estrogen, can you please make a podcast about that please dr

[jenniferwaithe]

Such a pity that you stopped watching it. I have watched it in its entirety and I'm watching it again. Will watch again and again until I have internalized the concepts.

[jellybeanvinkler]

The blonde needs to do more homework.
"Study" is becoming a dirty word to me. The "world health organization, " too.
I trusted what the dark haired woman said more.
Sorry, I didnt get the names.
Perhaps that should be in the headline title.

[ripapart]

Very nice podcast .U are doing great Dr.
I have recently learned about ferroptosis and JANE MCCLELAND about Metro Map.using food to defeat cancer ..It would be great if two would sit together

[Cajeput]

As a Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia patient I have learnt to my cost that supplements are dangerous if over used. I believed they accelerated me to treatment stage because they 'boosted' my B cells. I spend a lot of my time studying nutrition and how it supports (or not) my condition. After 3.5. years on treatment the hospital team are delighted with my sustained results and I feel great. Went to a nutrition/oncology company in Florida and now follow a tailored plant based, non dairy, food plan for my CLL and my drug. Their approach is based on research on how specific foods behave in the body for my CLL. They recommended only a few supplements: Vit D3, Pomegranate, lycopene, Vit C and iron. Everything else must come from specific foods e.g. no turmeric supplements but a smoothie with ginger, fresh turmeric in it is recommended. I think there needs to be more awareness by health professionals treating people for cancer on the benefits for nutrition specific for their cancer type. My cancer team just "glaze over" if I mention nutrition.