Cancer Prevention Clinic Dieticians

The Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) dietitians who work with the Cancer Prevention Clinic (CPC) team will be the first to remind people that 20 to 30 percent of cancer risk is estimated to be associated with lifestyle, which includes what people eat.  

That is why they are part of a team that provides education regarding cancer prevention by advocating lifestyle changes. Their goal is to provide real life personalized guidance that goes beyond just the hour-long visit.

The role of food in cancer prevention is an exciting and dynamic field that has captured the interest of many researchers including those from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Components of common foods such as fruits, vegetables, and spices are being studied to better understand their role in preventing disease. During a visit to the CPC, dietitians talk about the specific role of these food components and what current research says about the relationship between diet and cancer.

“Most of us like foods that are familiar to us – foods that we grew up with,” says Sarah Washburn, dietitian with the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. “However, we can develop a preference for new foods if we are exposed to these foods more often.”

CPC dietitians help people incorporate new foods into their diet along with their familiar foods. They often provide new recipes and suggest ways to make easy-to-prepare meals and snacks. In addition, they help people recognize other eating habits and optimize their food and lifestyle choices for prevention of chronic diseases, including cancer.

By coming to the CPC you have the initial motivation to learn about how to decrease your cancer risk by changing your food choices, but you may not realize how important it is to involve your family in those decisions as well. Washburn encourages family members to attend the hour-long consultation so that family eating patterns can be discussed and group decisions can be generated to support a healthy eating plan. 

“We know that demonstrations and hands-on experiences are fun and effective ways to learn about food,” Washburn says. Eventually, she and other CPC dietitians would like to offer cooking and shopping classes for individual and family members.