Food Recommendations for AML Patients to Eat or Avoid Post Transplant with Know AML
For the AML World Awareness Day, Know AML was pleased to speak with Katie Walker, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. They asked, “In your clinic, what foods do you recommend patients with acute myeloid leukemia should eat or avoid post transplant?”
She begins by prefacing the goals of her food recommendations, to help patients regain or stabilize their weight after a bone marrow transplant and gain strength. Walker outlines the different food groups, and highlights the importance of increased protein and its various sources. Finally, she discusses foods to omit such as unpasteurized dairy for those with a low neutrophil count.
Disclaimer: This video is for informational or educational purposes only, and does not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals.
Maintaining a Health Diet During Cancer Treatment with Know AML
For the AML World Awareness Day, Know AML was pleased to speak with Katie Walker, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. They asked, “Why is it important to maintain a healthy diet during treatment?”
Walker begins by explaining the content of a balanced diet in the context of different food groups. She discusses meat and dairy alternatives, as well as specific recommendations within food groups such as opting for wholemeal carbohydrates to increase fiber. Finally, she touches on supplements, weight maintenance, and reduction of appetite.
Disclaimer: This video is for informational or educational purposes only, and does not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals.
Nutrition Essentials for Cancer Patients: Optimizing Health During and After Treatment with Savor Health® and Ina®
Proper nutrition plays a pivotal role in supporting cancer patients both during and after treatment. Throughout treatment, understanding which foods to eat/avoid, managing symptoms, and preventing unintended weight loss are paramount. During treatment, patients may experience low blood counts. Food safety precautions can protect against infection from bacteria on food. While adhering to this regimen, wash all fruits and vegetables well and avoid deli meats and unpasteurized dairy foods. Also, cook all meat, fish, and eggs thoroughly.
Treatment frequently accompanies adverse side effects like fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, and taste alterations. Mitigating these symptoms can be achieved through consuming small, frequent meals, prioritizing eating during periods of feeling well, and incorporating ginger tea to alleviate nausea. For those experiencing symptoms like vomiting, nausea or diarrhea, maintaining hydration levels is particularly important, alongside consuming easy to digest foods like plain toast, yogurt, or bananas. For taste changes, altering the flavors of food by using different fats, acids, salts or sweets can help. Avoid metal utensils if you experience a metallic taste.
After-treatment, maintaining a balanced diet remains crucial. Reducing consumption of red meat, alcohol, and added sugars is advisable, as well as avoiding processed meats. Substituting with plant-based proteins such as nuts, seeds, whole soy foods, beans and legumes can provide plant-based protein and fiber, which lower cancer risk. Hydration and regular physical activity, aiming for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily, are vital components of the survivorship phase. Monitoring symptoms and maintaining open communication with healthcare providers ensures ongoing support and adjustments as needed.
Savor Health® and Patient Empowerment Network partner to offer access to Ina®, a Dietitian-on-Demand. Ina® provides personalized clinically and contextually appropriate nutrition and symptom management interventions 24/7 “on demand” via SMS text. This helps patients with complex chronic conditions stay on treatment, prevent and manage side effects, and optimize treatment outcomes. Text Ina® from your cell phone and she’ll respond with personalized nutrition tips, recipes and answers to your questions—no phone calls or appointments necessary. It is safe (HIPPA compliant), free and accessible 24/7 “on demand” through our partnership. Register for Ina® here: https://adpen.savorhealth.com/portal/
How Art’s Healing Abilities Can Help Those Touched by Cancer
– Jenna Benn Shersher, Twist Out Cancer Founder and CEO
When I was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer at 29 years old, I turned to the creative arts. Anyone with a cancer journey knows the experience is isolating, due to being immunocompromised. I craved human connection but knew I had to forgo it for treatment.
Feeling particularly lonely one day, I decided to put myself out there. A lifelong dancer, I queued Chubby Checker’s “The Twist,” hit ‘record’ and did the only move my body could muster: The Twist.
I uploaded the video to YouTube, not thinking much of its potential. Within a day, I went from feeling so alone to having the thousands respond to my video positively, even creating their own versions of The Twist.
Through my cancer experience, I learned that when you share, the world opens up. I thought, ‘If something as simple as The Twist could engage so many people, what else is possible?’ I explored that idea during my cancer treatment and came up with a concept I needed to act on.
I knew the way I felt when strangers embraced me. What if I could recreate that on a micro level?
Twist Out Cancer is Born
Art is a powerful way to communicate feelings nonverbally. I didn’t need to speak in my video but intrinsically, viewers understood my struggle. I didn’t have to repeat my trauma, all I had to do was twist.
Studies show cancer many patients and survivors experience post-traumatic stress disorder. Combined with how trauma affects the brain’s speech centers, nonverbal therapy can be transformational for individuals who have developed PTSD associated with cancer.
I loved how strangers showed up to support me during my cancer treatment. It was an experience that truly showcased human connection’s power. Through my newfound inspiration, a concept arose.
Could I engage artists to tell a story about a stranger touched by cancer?
Twist Out Cancer was born.
Share. Connect. Heal.
Twist Out Cancer exists to harness art’s healing properties.
Our signature program, Brushes with Cancer, pairs an artist with an individual touched by cancer, called an ‘Inspiration.’ Strangers when they meet, the pair connects over four months. During this time, the artist is tasked with creating artwork representative of their Inspiration’s story.
The program culminates with an art exhibition that showcases works from the pairs. The art is auctioned at the evening’s end, with proceeds going toward Twist Out Cancer’s programming. In 2024, we are proud to expand Brushes with Cancer to multiple programs, with a portion licensed to hospital systems.
Over 12 years, Twist Out Cancer has impacted 257,000 people through programming. In addition to Brushes with Cancer, the organization hosts regular virtual and in-person Twistshops, art therapy workshops led by an art therapist.
Prior to 2020, our Twistshops were held in person. When the pandemic forced us to live virtual lives, we discovered how necessary it was to make these experiences accessible.
Connections Across the Globe
Twist Out Cancer has always been an international organization. We’ve held events in multiple countries and boast participants from all over the globe. It only made sense to lean into virtual spaces.
And when we did, the community responded. Our virtual Twistshops were a hit and we’ve incorporated them into our programming ever since. Similarly, we’ve made our Brushes with Cancer events more accessible, offering a virtual option for those unable to travel.
For our 2023 Midwest Brushes with Cancer program, we had five international participants—two from Germany, two from the Netherlands and one from Croatia. Dr. Antje Petershagen, who lives in Germany, was paired with Alejandro Lopez-Rincon, who is based in the Netherlands. The pair taught us distance doesn’t diminish connection.
“He is so perfect,” Dr. Antje said in an interview. “I could not have found a better match in my life. This is number one.”
For Lopez-Rincon, participating as a Brushes with Cancer Artist was a learning experience that pushed his craft.
“I started as an artist, and I would say I became a student after talking with my Inspiration,” he told us in a testimonial.”Life does not stop after a cancer diagnosis. Art therapy is known to help with depression, to give meaning. This is why Twist Out Cancer is so important.”
