Researchers call for improved dietary support for cancer patients

A study has found that a cancer diagnosis does not necessarily improve a survivor’s diet or motivate healthier eating habits. The analysis of US public data spanning from 2003 to 2022 flags information deficits when planning cancer diagnosis treatment and a general lack of guidance from healthcare providers. 

The researchers warn this gap may be caused by certain barriers, including limited training, time constraints, and limited interprofessional collaboration among health professionals prescribing targeted dietary advice.

“We found that there was a gap in the literature in diet-related cancer risk awareness or behaviors between cancer survivors and non-cancer individuals,” says corresponding author Yunxia Lu, professor of population health and disease prevention at Wen Public Health, University of California, Irvine, US.

“We wanted to better understand how survivors were approaching their lifestyle and nutrition choices post-diagnosis and treatment and if their cancer journey did anything to improve this area of their lives.”

Assessing public awareness of risks

The study highlights differences in diet behaviors between cancer survivors and non-cancer individuals using data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), a data collection program operated by the US National Cancer Institute.

The study consolidated information from questionnaires that assessed people’s awareness of how diet affects cancer risk. This included their knowledge about the risks associated with eating processed meat and red meat and the protective effects of consuming fruit, vegetables, and dietary fiber.

The questionnaires also asked if participants were familiar with the cancer risk linked to drinking alcohol, a known carcinogen, and soda or sugar-sweetened beverages. Additionally, the surveys explored participants’ consumed volumes of fruit, vegetables, soda, and alcohol.

“Cancer treatment specialists view a cancer diagnosis as a ‘teachable moment’ that increases openness to adopting a healthy lifestyle,” says first author Hemangi Mavadiya, doctoral candidate at Wen Public Health.

“However, this study shows that there is a critical need for targeted dietary and behavioral interventions for the survivors and that education from provider to survivor is insufficient.”

The analysis did not reveal any notable differences in awareness of diet-related cancer risks or actual dietary behaviors between cancer survivors and those who never had cancer.

Both groups showed similar patterns. For instance, a significant majority — around 82% of both survivors and non-survivors — did not meet the American Cancer Society’s recommendation of consuming at least two to three cups of fruit daily. Similarly, 75% of both groups failed to meet the recommended intake for vegetables.

Food is medicine

The researchers call for further studies around cancer patients’ dietary awareness and behaviors before and after diagnoses, which would inform changes to practice and policy.

Lu adds: “Our study also shows us that there is a critical need for targeted and feasible dietary interventions tailored to the distinctive challenges faced by the vulnerable population and that healthcare professionals should integrate culturally sensitive nutritional education and counseling services into routine survivorship care, which may help cancer survivors adopt and maintain healthy dietary behaviors.” 

The number of cancer survivors in the US is projected to reach 26 million by 2040, the researchers project. Their findings are published in the journal Public Health Nutrition.

As the impact of diet on cancer outcomes comes into clearer focus, one previous study suggested that large language models can offer personalized dietary advice for breast cancer patients.

Increasingly, consumers are calling for nutrition-related services to be integrated within medical care as part of a plan to prevent or treat diseases. A consumer survey by The Rockefeller Foundation found that more than four in five respondents believe healthcare should offer more food and nutrition programs to manage and treat illnesses.

Another recent survey found that a growing number of US citizens believe government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid should help pay for “Food is Medicine” initiatives, while half of participants believe private insurance should also pay for these interventions.