Old school advice might have been to eat more fruits and vegetables when fighting breast cancer, but today, a clinical dietitian who is board certified in oncology nutrition can tailor her recommendations for each patient.

UCHealth Jan Bishop Cancer Center in Steamboat Springs now offers the expertise of an oncology specific nutritionist embedded at the center 20 hours a week. Registered Dietitian Lana Jarosch recently earned her oncology nutrition certification, and helps cancer patients with guidance and education before treatment starts, symptom management during treatment and nutrition advice for cancer survivors.

Jarosch provides individualized care to patients based on their specific needs. For example, a breast cancer patient may need help navigating treatment-related side effects ranging from changes of taste and smell to gastrointestinal issues that may cause malnutrition.

Sanaya Sturm, a nurse manager who oversees the cancer center, said nutritional needs can change dramatically throughout cancer treatment, so the specialized dietitian can help patients at multiple points during the treatment process.

“Lana is a vital team member of our multidisciplinary care team,” Sturm said. “Thanks to her proactive work of replenishing nutrients that may cause nutritional deficiencies, Lana helps patients stay on track with their treatments. We have the ability to provide real-time interventions to our patients.”

Jarosch said she looked forward to the challenge of working in the oncology setting since her undergraduate days. She said nutrition can play a vital role throughout a patient’s cancer journey.

“There is so much to consider with oncology,” Jarosch said. “It’s an extraordinary honor to come alongside someone during their darkest hour and offer compassion and encouragement with a listening ear and actionable nutrition strategies.”

She stresses the importance of personalized medical nutrition therapy that depends on many factors such as the type and stage of cancer, course of treatments, patient goals and drug, supplement and nutrient reactions and interactions. Patients may experience such issues or side effects as fatigue, weight loss, mouth sores, constipation, nausea, diarrhea or significant changes in taste, smell or appetite.

“The more intense the treatment, the more intense the medical nutrition therapy,” Jarosch said. “Your nutritional needs increase for those more aggressive forms of treatment, for example, combining radiation, chemotherapy and surgery.”

According to the Commission on Dietetic Registration, Jarosch is one of 32 board-certified specialists in oncology nutrition in Colorado. The certification requires a registered dietitian to complete 2,000 practice experience hours in oncology and pass a three-hour board certification exam.

Jarosch also helps patients receive nutritional resources if they are struggling with food insecurity.

She advises patients fighting cancer to accept offered help from family and friends and not to be hesitant to tell those friends about specific dietary needs or restrictions. Patients should plan in advance to have appropriate, healthy foods or meals ready prior to their toughest treatment days, she said.

“I enjoy pouring myself into this area, this expertise,” Jarosch said, “because it really does make a difference for people.”