for the Cancer Survivor

For most oncology patients, weight gain is not considered problematic. However, in some instances weight gain can be detrimental to health. Out-patient oncology dietitians most often work with patients who are currently undergoing treatment. Weight loss during cancer treatment is associated with incomplete treatments, increased toxicity from treatments, and decreased rates of survival (Marian, 2013). But once patients transition into survivorship, weight loss is often needed. Obesity contributes to many health issues. It has been associated with an increased risk for recurrence of colorectal and breast cancers (in postmenopausal women; Marian, 2013). Obesity “increases the risk of cancer death among postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor–positive (ER+) breast cancer” (Fuentes-Mattei et al., 2014). It has also been “associ-ated with significantly increased risk of progression beyond the confirmatory biopsy ” for prostate cancer (Bhindi et al., 2014). As health-care practitioners, we want our patients to be as healthy as possible and to have the least chance for recurrence of their disease. The American Institute for Cancer Researc