Nourished FROM WITHIN: Integrative Oncology Support to Help You Live Well Through Treatment and Beyond
At FROM WITHIN, integrative oncology means helping you navigate side effects, preserve strength and function, and move toward survivorship with confidence and in close partnership with your oncology team. The approach is safety‑first, evidence‑informed, and highly personalised. Nutrition, practical mealtime strategies, sleep and stress support, and carefully chosen complementary tools are integrated to care for the whole person, never compromising medical treatment (Arends et al., 2017; Rock et al., 2022).
Why work with a certified practising nutritionist during cancer care?
Cancer and its treatments commonly affect appetite, taste, gut function, energy, and mood. Unintentional weight loss and changes in body composition are frequent, and side effects like nausea, constipation or diarrhoea, mouth sores, reflux, and fatigue can erode quality of life (Arends et al., 2017; Rock et al., 2022). Individualised nutrition care helps maintain oral intake, protect lean muscle, steady energy, and restore a sense of control day to day, alongside oncology and, where applicable, other healthcare practitioners (Ravasco et al., 2005; Arends et al., 2017).
At FROM WITHIN, we create treatment‑aware, realistic nutrition plans that are designed to respect symptoms, preferences, culture, budget, and the practical constraints of treatment days. The focus is on safeguarding overall nutrition without getting in the way of therapy. That includes flexible strategies for low appetite or altered taste; energy‑dense options for small portions; soothing textures and temperatures; and easy ways to keep protein, hydration, and electrolytes on track (Arends et al., 2017). Food‑safety guidance is provided when needed, for example, during periods of neutropenia, emphasising safe food handling rather than unnecessary restriction (Gardner et al., 2008; Rock et al., 2022).
Nutrition at the heart of integrative care
Protecting strength and function: Adequate protein and total energy supports lean muscle mass, stamina, and independence. When fatigue is high, “every bite counts,” with meals and snacks anchored in options that are easy to prepare and tolerate (Arends et al., 2017).
Supporting gut comfort: Treatment can speed or slow transit, increase reflux, and heighten sensitivity. Fibre types and portions are tailored, hydration is kept steady, and calm‑nervous‑system mealtime habits are encouraged to reduce bloating, cramping, or urgency. Liaison with your medical team can include targeted products such as oral rehydration solutions or specific supplements when appropriate (Arends et al., 2017; Rock et al., 2022).
Managing common side effects: Nausea, constipation/diarrhoea, taste changes, dry mouth, early fullness, and steroid‑related appetite or blood‑sugar swings are common and manageable. Bite‑sized tactics prioritise comfort foods that still deliver nutrition, adapted as symptoms evolve across cycles (Arends et al., 2017; Rock et al., 2022).
Eating pattern quality, made practical: When feasible, a colourful, plant‑forward pattern with quality proteins, whole grains, extra‑virgin olive oil, nuts, and seeds is encouraged, flexed to tolerance in each phase. This supports cardiometabolic health, gut integrity, and recovery without rigid rules. On difficult days, adequacy beats perfection (World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research [WCRF/AICR], 2018; Rock et al., 2022).
The gut microbiome: Gut ecology can shift during treatment. Gentle, food‑first strategies come first; supplements are considered only when appropriate and cleared by the oncology team, with extra caution during immunosuppression (Greenlee et al., 2017; Rock et al., 2022).
Blood‑glucose regulation: Treatment schedules, steroids, and stress can make energy and appetite unpredictable. Simple meal‑timing and composition strategies help blunt spikes and dips that can worsen fatigue, nausea, or mood (Arends et al., 2017; Rock et al., 2022).
Complementary therapies and supplements: safety first
Some supportive therapies can help with symptoms, but timing, dose, and interactions matter. The approach at FROM WITHIN is conservative and collaborative: no recommendations that could conflict with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, or radiotherapy. All supplements are cross‑checked for interactions, doses remain appropriate, and food‑based solutions are prioritised wherever possible. If a supplement is considered, coordination with the oncologist and pharmacist ensures alignment. The goal is always to enhance comfort and recovery, never to compete with treatment (Greenlee et al., 2017; Lyman et al., 2022; Rock et al., 2022).
Whole‑person care beyond the plate
Nutrition lands best in a body that feels as safe and supported as possible. Care includes simple anchors, e.g., regular hydration, gentle movement as tolerated, brief breath practices before meals, and sleep‑protective routines, all of which can help reduce symptom burden and improve day‑to‑day ease. Collaboration with exercise physiologists, psychologists, and other allied health professionals is arranged when appropriate so care feels coordinated and there’s no guesswork about “what to try next” (Campbell et al., 2019; Lyman et al., 2022; Rock et al., 2022).
Support across the cancer care continuum
Preparing for treatment (prehab): Practical pantry prep, protein‑forward options, hydration plans, and simple batch‑cooking create “good‑enough” choices for tougher days. Where surgery is planned, prehabilitation that incorporates nutrition and movement can support recovery (Carli & Scheede‑Bergdahl, 2015).
During treatment: Plans are adjusted based on side effects and labs, keeping intake sufficient and strategies realistic. Quick pivots help when taste shifts, GI symptoms change, or fatigue peaks (Arends et al., 2017).
Between cycles and after treatment: Support gradually rebuilds appetite, strength, and stamina; aids gut repair; and refines an eating pattern that is sustainable. Survivorship goals such as cardiometabolic and bone health and long‑term energy are addressed in line with established survivor guidelines (Rock et al., 2022; WCRF/AICR, 2018).
What working together looks like
Personalised assessment: Diagnosis and treatment plan, symptoms, appetite and taste changes, weight and muscle trends, sleep, stress, support systems, and food preferences and routines are reviewed (Arends et al., 2017).
A clear, flexible plan: Each consult ends with precise next steps that feels doable, foods to lean on, easy meal and snack ideas, symptom‑specific tweaks, hydration targets, and any agreed testing or referrals. Everything is personalised.
Ongoing adjustment: Regular check‑ins respond to new side effects, refine strategies, and celebrate wins. The plan is a living document that evolves with needs.
Team‑based care: With consent, key points are shared with the oncology team and any other member of your health care team, so care remains aligned and safe (Greenlee et al., 2017; Rock et al., 2022).
Why FROM WITHIN?
There is a lot of confusing nutrition advice online, especially during cancer treatment. FROM WITHIN offers calm, evidence‑informed guidance that respects your medical plan and your lived reality. The emphasis is on keeping things as simple as possible, as nourishing as necessary, and as flexible as you need. It’s the support that helps you feel more comfortable, more confident, and more in control during treatment and beyond. If this sounds helpful to you, book a consult here so that we can create a plan personliased to you.
Important note
This article is educational and not a substitute for personalised medical advice. Always follow the recommendations of your oncologist and healthcare team. If red‑flag symptoms occur—such as uncontrolled vomiting, signs of dehydration, fever, sudden weight loss, severe pain, or GI bleeding—seek medical care promptly.
References
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Campbell, K. L., Winters-Stone, K. M., Wiskemann, J., May, A. M., Schwartz, A. L., Courneya, K. S., Zucker, D. S., Matthews, C. E., Ligibel, J. A., Gerber, L. H., Morris, G. S., Patel, A. V., Hue, T., Perna, F. M., & Schmitz, K. H. (2019). Exercise guidelines for cancer survivors: Consensus statement from International Multidisciplinary Roundtable. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 51(11), 2375–2390. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000002116
Carli, F., & Scheede‑Bergdahl, C. (2015). Prehabilitation to enhance perioperative care. Anesthesiology Clinics, 33(1), 17–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anclin.2014.11.002
Gardner, A., Mattiuzzi, G., Faderl, S., Rytting, M., Verma, A., Garcia‑Manero, G., & Estey, E. (2008). Randomized comparison of cooked and noncooked diets in patients undergoing remission induction therapy for acute myeloid leukemia. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 26(35), 5684–5688. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2008.16.2533
Greenlee, H., DuPont‑Reyes, M. J., Balneaves, L. G., Carlson, L. E., Cohen, M. R., Deng, G., Johnson, J. A., Mumber, M., Seely, D., Zick, S. M., & Boyce, L. M. (2017). Clinical practice guidelines on the use of integrative therapies as supportive care in patients treated for breast cancer. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 67(3), 194–232. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21397
Lyman, G. H., Greenlee, H., Bohlke, K., Bao, T., DeMichele, A. M., Deng, G., Fouladbakhsh, J. M., Gil, I., Hershman, D. L., Mansfield, S., Mustafa, R. A., Runowicz, C. D., Salamone, J. M., Stover, A. M., & Bruner, D. W. (2022). Integrative oncology care of symptoms of anxiety and depression in adults with cancer: Society for Integrative Oncology–ASCO guideline. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 40(34), 3955–3994. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.22.00996
Ravasco, P., Monteiro‑Grillo, I., Vidal, P. M., & Camilo, M. E. (2005). Dietary counseling improves patient outcomes: A prospective, randomized, controlled trial in colorectal cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 23(7), 1431–1438. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2005.02.054
Rock, C. L., Thomson, C. A., Sullivan, K. R., Howe, C. L., Kushi, L. H., Caan, B. J., Neuhouser, M. L., Bandera, E. V., Wang, Y., Gapstur, S. M., McCullough, M. L., Patel, A. V., Cespedes Feliciano, E. M., & Jacobsen, P. B. (2022). American Cancer Society nutrition and physical activity guideline for cancer survivors. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 72(3), 230–262. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21719
World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research. (2018). Diet, nutrition, physical activity and cancer: A global perspective (Continuous Update Project Expert Report). https://www.wcrf.org/diet-activity-and-cancer/