Chapter 7: Integrative Oncology: The Role Of Nutrition Flashcards
What is the role of the integrative oncologist?
To assist patients increating a treatment regimen that safely incorporates complementary therapies with their conventional treatment, using evidence-informed data, where possible.
What is the problem with the term CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine)?
It is a self-contradiction as alternative therapies are used instead of and complementary therpaies are used in addition to conventional therapies.
What are some recognized complementary therapies?
Mind and Body (meditation, yoga, deep breathinng)
Massage
Evergy-based therapies (reiki, qi gong)
Natural products (supplements)
ACS guidelines?
- Achieve and maintain a healthy weight throughout life. 2. Adopt a physically active lifestyle. 3. Choose a healthy diet with an emphasis on plant-based foods. 4. If you drink, do so in moderation.
If A1c is elevated, what medication should be tried?
Metformin
What are possible mechanisms in which fat contributes to increased risk of cancer?
Fat secretes cytokines that promote cancer.
Excess body fat may impair immune system.
Obesity leads to insulin resistance, causing increase in insulin-like growth factor-1.
Fat produces estrogen which is relevant in the increased risk of post-menopausal estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer and endometrial carcinoma.
An active lifestyle has been shown to reduce the risk of which cancers?
Breast, colon, endometrial
Which blood test provides information on a person’s ongoing level of systemic inflammation?
c-reactive protein
Which blood test shows a person’t blood sugar control over the past 3 months?
A1c
Organic vs conventional produce had the same concentration of macronutrients, but what was the difference?
The organic produce had high phytochemical content.
Studies show that red meat consumption is directly proportional to the risk of developing which cancer?
Colon
AICR alcohol guidelines?
Limit to 1 drink/day for women and 2 drinks/day for men
Nutrition Guidelines?
Eat at least 2.5 c of fruits/vegetables per day, choose whole grains, avoid sugar drinks, limit red meat, avoid processed meats, and limit alcohol.
It is recommended that cancer patients receiving any chemotherapeutic intervention avoid taking which herbal supplement?
St. John’s Wort (because it is metabolized through the same pathway in the body)
Which type of vitamins should be avoided during acute cancer therapy? Why?
Antioxidants. Radiation therapy and many chemotherapeutic interventions damage tumor cell DNA via production of reactive oxygen species and are strongly oxidative. The concern is that antioxidants may reduce the efficacy of those treatments.
If someone is taking Warfarin, what vitamin should they avoid eating too much of?
Vitamin K
T/F There is an inverse relationship between the intake of marine omega-3 fatty acids and the development of a number of malignancies?
True
How does omega-3 fatty acid reduce cancer risk?
Reduces inflammation, increase apoptosis
omega-3 fatty acid should not exceed ___ mg/day. Why?
4000 mg d/t bleeding tendencies above that amount.
What is a safe 25-hydroxyvitamin D level?
40-80 ng/mL
In severe deficiency, each _____ IU dose of of vitamin D, should increase blood levels by ___ ng/mL?
1000 IU, 10 ng/mL
Curcumin is found in which spice?
Turmeric
How does curcumin help with cancer prevention?
It is a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant with broad antibiotic activity, as well.
How does curcumin help with tumor production?
It can inhibit tumor initiation, promotion, invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis and also acts as a chemosensitizer and radiosensitizer for some tumors.
Which 2 cancers get the most benefit from curcumin?
colorectal and pancreatic
What should you eat along with curcumin to increase it’s absorption?
fatty foods - olive oil, avocado, fish oil, etc.
ECGC is found in
Green tea
How does green tea protect against cancer?
pro-apoptotic effects, inhibition of signaling molecules, antimetastatic and antioxidant effect
Green tea lowers risk of which cancers
Digestive tract cancers
Green tea may antagonize _____ due to it’s vitamin K level?
Warfarin
During stress, which 2 hormones are released?
Epinephrine and cortisol (both are immunosuppressants)
Patient empowerment serves to reduce ____ and increase a sense of ___.
stress. hope
What are some integrative therapies that can help with stress?
Meditation, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), biofeedback, hypnosis, guided imagery, art therapy, music therapy, yoga, and tai chi
Acupuncture has been shown to help in the following ways.
improve nausea/vomiting, xerostomia, muscloskeletal complaints, hot flashes, improved salivary flow.
