Abby C. Sauer, MPH, RD

When a loved one is going through treatment for cancer, the caregiver’s roles may be many and varied, from helping to get a second opinion and deciding about treatment, to talking with visitors, or trying to keep up the loved one’s spirits. Grocery shopping, making favorite meals, and taking the patient out to dinner at a favorite restaurant are probably on this list as well. However, during cancer treatment, the patient might not always feel like eating and might not want to eat the same foods he or she used to enjoy. For example, one day the patient may eat with gusto but the next, a favorite food may taste unappealing. The caregiver should not take this personally, as this is all a normal part of the process and how cancer treatment can impact a patient’s appetites and eating habits.

In this month’s issue of The Oncology Nurse-APN/PA (TON), we continue our coverage of the news from the recent Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) 39th Annual Congress and the 2014 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

Patients with cancer face many challenges, including eating well to maintain a good nutritional status and avoid weight loss and malnutrition.