Nutrition & Supportive care

Diablo Valley Oncology / Hematology Medical Group's unique philosophy of wellness reflects an approach to the treatment of cancer that supports and encourages a healthy lifestyle through nutrition, exercise, and complementary supportive care.

Balanced nutrition is a very important part of cancer treatment, as well as survivorship and prevention.A healthful diet can help rebuild your body's cells and energy level, especially if you are receiving chemotherapy or radiation treatment. We encourage you to talk to our nutrition expert while receiving your care at Diablo Valley Oncology / Hematology Medical Group. Our registered nutritionist has special training in the area of oncology nutrition and working in association with your physician will design a practical eating and supplement plan to meet your individual needs with special attention to your beliefs and cultural values.

Exercise is no longer complementary, but an integral part of therapy. Large clinical trials with hard clinical data have shown a benefit in at least two cancers in regards to a reduction in cancer recurrence rates in patients who already carry a diagnosis of cancer. Additionally, exercise during therapy has improved patients ability to complete therapy and to decrease side effects. We at Diablo Valley Oncology / Hematology Medical Group believe this is so important that we are in the process of formalizing these recommendations. Please ask your physician if you need more information.

We recognize that living with cancer is a challenging experience which is why we often suggest supportive therapies such as yoga, massage, meditation, acupuncture, psychotherapy, and counseling. These approaches are finding an effective place in cancer treatment – not necessarily to increase cure rates, but rather as complementary therapies that may help improve patients overall well-being and tolerance of therapy. For example, some patients have found that acupuncture has helped manager chemotherapy associated nausea and vomiting and helped to control pain associated with surgery. Meditation may improve sleep, resulting in higher quality of life. We encourage you to share your individual challenges with your Diablo Valley Oncology / Hematology Medical Group physician and nurse practitioner so that they can recommend complementary therapies that may be of benefit to you.