Rainbow Oncology

25/11/2025

A big 🌈 thank you to Kendall Foley who kindly donated her ponytail for CANSA recently.

22/11/2025

Fuel for the Fight: The Importance of Good Nutrition During Cancer
Treatment by Mare Wortmann - Registered Dietitian

When you’re undergoing cancer treatment, food can become more than
nourishment — it’s part of your healing. Chemotherapy, radiation & surgery all
place heavy demands on the body. Good nutrition helps you stay strong,
recover faster & tolerate treatment better.

Cancer & its treatments can cause fatigue, loss of appetite, taste changes,
nausea, and weight loss. Eating well supports your immune system, maintains
muscle mass and helps repair cells. It can also reduce the severity of side
effects and improve quality of life.

Why Nutrition Matters During Treatment:
 Energy and strength: Adequate calories and protein help maintain bodyweight & muscle mass.
 Healing & recovery.
 Immunity: A well-nourished body fights infection more effectively.
 Tolerance to treatment: Eating well can lessen fatigue, nausea & mouth
sores and other side effects of treatment.

Practical Nutrition Tips During Cancer Treatment
 Eat small, frequent meals. Aim for 5–6 light meals/snacks a day instead of
three large ones. This helps manage nausea & maintains energy.
 Prioritise protein. Include protein at every meal — eggs, chicken, fish, lentils,
beans, yoghurt, or soft tofu. Protein supports healing and helps prevent
muscle loss.
 Keep fluids up. Sip on water, herbal teas, soups, or diluted fruit juice
throughout the day to prevent dehydration.
 Manage taste changes. If food tastes metallic, use plastic cutlery, add lemon
juice or try marinades and herbs. Cold foods like smoothies or yoghurts may
be more tolerable.
 Boost your calorie intake when needed. If you’re losing weight, add healthy
fats like nut butters, olive oil, or avocado to meals. Smoothies with fruit,
yoghurt, and oats are nourishing and easy to consume.
 Focus on gentle, nourishing foods. Opt for soft, easy-to-digest foods such as
soups, mashed vegetables, oats, scrambled eggs, or puréed fruits when your
stomach feels unsettled.
 Protect your gut. If your healthcare team approves, include probiotic-rich
foods like yoghurt or maas to support digestive health.
 Listen to your body. Your appetite will fluctuate — eat when you can and
focus on what feels good. Don’t stress about eating “perfectly”; small,
consistent efforts count.

Nutrition during cancer treatment isn’t about following strict rules — it’s about
giving your body the fuel it needs to cope, recover, and heal. With the right foods
and gentle adjustments, you can turn every bite into a step toward strength and
resilience.

19/11/2025

Lycopene & Prostate Health — Purple November



November’s not just about moustaches and awareness ribbons — it’s about men’s health! And today, we’re talking about something juicy… Lycopene!

This red superhero pigment gives tomatoes, watermelon and pink grapefruit their colour, and it may play a role in protecting the prostate. Think of it as your body’s natural antioxidant shield.



What is Lycopene?

Lycopene is a red-coloured carotenoid found in tomatoes, watermelon, guava and pink grapefruit. Cooking tomatoes actually makes lycopene more available to your body — so your pasta sauce might just be doing more than making you happy!

Why the Hype?

Research suggests men who regularly eat lycopene-rich foods may have a lower risk of developing prostate cancer or less aggressive disease. While not a cure, it’s another reason to pile on that tomato goodness!

Lycopene may:

· • Help protect cells from damage

· • Reduce inflammation

· • Slow the growth of abnormal cells

· • Support DNA repair

How to Get Your Lycopene Fix

· 🍅 Tomato sauce, soup, paste or stew

· 🍕 Pizza with tomato base (thin crust please!)

· 🍝 Spaghetti with a rich tomato and olive oil sauce

· 🍉 Watermelon slices in summer

· 🍹 Fresh tomato juice or blended veggie smoothie

💧 Pro tip: Add a drizzle of olive oil — lycopene loves fat! It helps your body absorb it better.

💬 Can I Just Take a Supplement?

Hold your horses 🐎 — food first! Supplements haven’t proven to offer the same benefits as real food, and more isn’t always better. Get your lycopene the tasty way — through meals, not pills.



Purple November Challenge

· 💜 Eat at least one tomato-based meal every day this week

· 💜 Tag your pics with

· 💜 Remind a friend or partner to get their prostate check — early detection saves lives!

⚖️ Real Talk

Tomatoes aren’t magic. They’re just one piece of the puzzle. Stay active, eat a balanced diet, manage stress, and go for that check-up — because strong men look after their health inside and out.



Written by: Maré Worthmann, Registered Dietitian (BSc Diet, PG Dip Diet)
Kingsway Hospital Dietitians, Amanzimtoti
📧 mareworthmann@gmail.com | ☎️ 082 720 2158

17/11/2025

Our next October Health x CANSA podcast drops on 20 November.

Join us for a powerful conversation with testicular cancer survivor, Michele, as he shares his journey, the importance of early detection, and why speaking up about men’s health matters.

Don’t miss this inspiring episode — make sure to tune in!

16/11/2025

01/11/2025

www.rainbowoncology.co.za