This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by
Maurie Markman, MD, President, Medicine & Science
This page was updated on April 29, 2022.
Nutritional support at City of Hope is designed to help cancer patients maintain their body weight and strength, fight infection and reduce potential side effects of cancer treatment with a personalized nutrition plan.
Some cancer patients may experience gastrointestinal problems, nausea or other symptoms that may affect their ability or desire to eat. Nutritional support is used to help patients manage these symptoms and stay strong and nourished during treatment.
At City of Hope, depending on need, patients may meet with a registered dietitian to address nutrition-related deficiencies. A dietitian, trained and educated in nutritional care, evaluates the patient’s nutritional status and makes recommendations for staying nourished with healthy foods and a well-balanced diet.
Dietitians may consider many factors in making these recommendations, including patients' type of cancer, treatment and side effects they may be experiencing. Our dietitians monitor their nutrition status from the beginning to the end of cancer treatment, making modifications as needed to reduce side effects and help them reduce the risk of treatment interruptions.
Dietitians at City of Hope are part of a larger nutrition therapy team focused on keeping your immune system strong, preventing malnutrition and supporting patients' recovery from cancer treatments. The nutrition therapy team plays a key role in the patient-centered approach at City of Hope, which surrounds each patient with a care team led by a medical oncologist and coordinated by a care manager.
Depending on your needs, your care team may also include a naturopathic provider, a pain management physician, a spiritual support provider and physical therapist. These team members regularly communicate with you and one another to provide an integrated approach to your care.
Nutritional support may be used to manage these side effects: