When my treatment for breast cancer was just around the corner, I asked a nurse about a dietitian on staff who I might talk to -- or a nutritionist or anyone who could help me wrap my head around eating right and staying healthy and maintaining my weight during treatment. I was told that I didn't need to talk to anyone -- that I would likely not lose any weight and would be fine. I was aware at the time that a referral to a dietitian often occurs with weight loss associated with treatment -- but it seemed that a referral for merely staying on track was just as important. Yet this seemed not to be an issue.  And I never was referred to anyone. So I found someone on my own -- and independent nutritionist who came to my house just after my first dose of chemotherapy, on a day when I felt nauseated and foggy and sick. It was a perfect time to talk to someone about how to eat during this difficult time, and the wisdom that was shared with me is as fresh in my mind today as it was 18 months ago -- when I sat at my dining room table with my mom and a young woman who knew exactly what I wanted to know.


I learned that cancer patients do frequently experience weight loss -- this can be associated with the disease itself or with nutrition-related problems such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea. But some patients -- like breast cancer patients -- can gain weight. Either way, a nutritious diet is vital for maintaining a healthy weight -- and it's vital for the body to work at its best. So I learned that I should eat a variety of foods every day. And that I should eat small portions. And that I should not make any major changes to my eating regime during treatment -- because if a health concern surfaced, it would be unclear whether the cause of the concern was my diet or my disease. So my safest course of action was to maintain my normal eating habits during treatment -- and to make changes, if desired, at a later time.

I still don't know if I want to change my diet. I wonder about a diet without red meat. And a vegetarian diet. And a vegan diet. I wonder about consuming dairy and the value of canned foods and how to identify hormone-treated foods.  I wonder how -- or if -- I will change my diet once my treatment ends in July. There is one thing I know for sure, though. Seeking professional advice about diet and nutrition is important for everyone -- not just for those who might or do lose weight. For everyone. Everyone who wants to move consciously in the direction of health. Everyone who wants to take control during a time when life seems uncontrollable. Everyone.