Nutrition

BC Cancer Nutrition Services

BC Cancer dietitians can help if you are experiencing eating challenges during your cancer treatment. No referral required. Call the Nutrition Services at your cancer centre directly (see "Finding Us" section on the webpage) for help with the following:

• decreased appetite and unwanted weight loss
• dry mouth and taste changes
• nausea
• bowel changes: constipation or diarrhea
• other eating-related issues

For general nutrition questions, call Healthlink BC: 8-1-1 

Virtual Nutrition Class: Eating well on your cancer journey

Available to people with cancer interested in learning about preparing and planning a nutritious diet. Register on the webpage above.

Nutrition Information: find handouts on food safety and managing eating difficulties, as well as recipes, videos and general information on healthy eating. French, Simplified Chinese and Punjabi translations are available for some handouts - please check the webpage.

Managing eating difficulties (more handouts available on the webpage):

• Food Choices to Help Manage Diarrhea caused by Cancer Treatment 
• Food Ideas to Help Manage Diarrhea 
• Dietary Fibre Content of Common Foods
• Food Choices to Help Manage Constipation 
• How to treat constipation caused by medications
• Food Choices to Lessen Gas 
• Low fibre diet to manage partial bowel blockage 
• Problem solving for people with partial bowel blockage
• Managing Diabetes During Cancer Treatment 
• Food Ideas for a Sore Mouth
• Easy to Chew Easy to Swallow Food Ideas 
• Coping with Dry Mouth 
• Practical Tips to Help Manage Nausea 
• Food Ideas to Help with Decreased Appetite 
• High Protein High Energy Food Choices 
• Food Ideas to Cope with Taste and Smell Changes 

• Sugar and Cancer 

What can the Library do for patients?

• Access to credible information and personalized literature searches - contact library@bccancer.bc.ca
• Library Pathfinders - patient resource guides on specific topics (see below)
• Information Request form 

Library Catalogue: find books and eBooks

• Nutrition and Diet - run an automatic search for books and eBooks about food and diet
• Or explore our catalogue by searching for other topics.

Pathfinders are lists of preselected resources, such as books, eBooks, websites, pamphlets and support programs, available locally or online.

Check the following pathfinders:

• Nutrition for People with Cancer
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Dysphagia (Difficulty Swallowing)
• Mouth and Jaw Problems

Contact the Library for information on how to borrow books or access eBooks: library@bccancer.bc.ca

Find more pathfinders on cancer and support topics on the Library webpage.