How a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) Can Help During and After Cancer Treatment

Dec 12, 2022 | Angie Murad, Patient Educator | @muradangie | Comments (23)

Article written by Maddie Strong, MS, RDN, LD and Lisa Lammert, RDN, LD

Nutrition is a critical part of your cancer treatment journey. Research shows that eating well during treatment can help you stay stronger and feel better during treatment. A registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) can help you optimize your nutrition before, during and after cancer treatment.

RDNs are food and nutrition experts who have graduated with at least a bachelor’s degree in nutrition, completed an accredited supervised dietetic internship, passed a national examination and who must complete ongoing continuing professional education requirements to maintain registration.

How can an RDN help me?

Manage side effects from treatment, such as poor appetite or taste changes
Prevent unintentional weight loss during treatment
Promote healthy nutrition habits
Separate cancer nutrition myths from facts
Educate on healthy eating patterns to help reduce the risk of cancer recurrence
Help achieve or maintain a healthy body weight

An RDN will partner with you to develop a safe and realistic eating plan. To guide and motivate you, an RDN will use creative and out-of-the-box strategies to help with meal planning, weight management and cancer treatment symptom management.

What can you expect while meeting with an RDN?

A thorough review of medical history, current diet, and eating habits
Development of a personalized nutrition plan that takes into consideration:
- Food preferences, allergies, and intolerances
- Lifestyle
- Finances
- Ability to shop for and prepare food
- Multiple or conflicting diet/nutrition needs
- Cancer treatment symptoms
Focus on foods to include, not just what to avoid
Support in identifying and overcoming barriers
Guidance setting individualized goals

Most often a referral is needed from your health care provider to work with an RDN. Cost of RDN visits vary depending on insurance type/coverage. Ask your health care provider for a referral to a registered dietitian nutritionist and start maximizing your nutrition for a better quality of life!

How has a dietitian supported you?

Interested in more newsfeed posts like this? Go to the Cancer Education blog.

beth123 | @beth123 | Jan 29, 2023

Does Mayo Clinic offer video visits with a RDN?

Angie Murad, Patient Educator | @muradangie | Jan 29, 2023

In reply to @beth123 "Does Mayo Clinic offer video visits with a RDN?" + (show)

Yes they do! Let your provider know you would like to meet with a dietitian and then request a video visit when scheduling.

Helen, Volunteer Mentor | @naturegirl5 | Jan 30, 2023

@beth123 I had a video visit with a dietitian earlier this month. I was referred by a provider (oncologist) and the online visit was very easy to set up.

andymac77 | @andymac77 | Feb 15, 2023

In reply to @muradangie "Yes they do! Let your provider know you would like to meet with a dietitian and..." + (show)

Hello, I was looking for a way to connect with you but this seems to be the only route. My wife was recently diagnosed and I was looking for some guidance. Would all hospitals dealing with cancer offer a RDN as support?

Angie Murad, Patient Educator | @muradangie | Feb 15, 2023

In reply to @andymac77 "Hello, I was looking for a way to connect with you but this seems to be..." + (show)

Hello @andymac77
Yes, there should be a dietitian to provide support for your wife. Talk with your oncology care team to ask if they can order a consult with a dietitian. I wish the best to your wife.

andymac77 | @andymac77 | Feb 15, 2023

In reply to @muradangie "Hello @andymac77 Yes, there should be a dietitian to provide support for your wife. Talk with..." + (show)

Thank you very much. Greatly appreciated, especially the quick response.

nauden | @nauden | Apr 16, 2023

The integrative oncologist at Mayo recommended some books to me that were very hopeful and informative about cancer remission that included nutrition recommendations: Radical Remission and Radical Hope by Kelly Turner. They include more of a diet elimination process. She also highly recommends Ketotarian diet for my cancer GBM. Ketotarian is more complex and a bigger change for me. I’m looking forward to my integrative oncology nutritionist appointment at the end of the month to get the support I need. Everything I read says diet matters with cancer!

jlea | @jlea | Mar 21 12:03pm

In reply to @hopeful33250 "@muradangie No, my appetite has not really improved all that much but I do eat because..." + (show)

Hello, Teresa,
I will be having surgery on my digestive system next week and anticipate needing a dietician to help me. I wondered if you could suggest someone at Mayo - Rochester? Thank you!

Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Mar 21 12:09pm

In reply to @jlea "Hello, Teresa, I will be having surgery on my digestive system next week and anticipate needing..." + (show)

Hi @jlea and welcome to Mayo Connect.

From my understanding, Mayo will automatically have a dietician visit you before discharge. To be sure, though, ask your surgeon to have a dietician visit you before you go home.

How long do you anticipate being hospitalized, @jlea?

Laurie, Volunteer Mentor | @roch | Mar 21 2:48pm

@jlea

As @hopeful33250 suggested, definitely ask for a dietician consult either before or after surgery while in hospital. It might be best to ask prior to visit / surgery by sending a portal message to care team. Then the surgeon can place order. Not knowing type of surgery your having, in portal message, be specific about why you want to talk to dietician. If it is standard procedure to get education after surgery, the care team will let you know. Better to ask ahead of time then try to schedule while in hospital.