Haywood Regional Medical Center’s (HRMC) Nutrition and Diabetes Education Department was recently awarded a grant from the Haywood Healthcare Foundation to serve Haywood County residents that receive a cancer diagnosis. Patients will be able to receive nutrition education while undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment at no charge to the patient.

“We are very excited about the opportunity to provide informed nutrition education to Haywood County residents with cancer to help them during their fight. Many patients do not have insurance coverage for nutrition education and, in the past, have not been given direct guidance on their nutrition during treatment.  For us to be able to cover this cost with this grant from the Haywood Healthcare Foundation is going to help patients tremendously,” states Lauren Teague, program director and registered dietitian in HRMC’s Nutrition and Diabetes Education department. 

Individuals that receive guidance on nutrition education during and after cancer treatment have been shown to keep a healthy body weight, maintain strength, keep body tissue healthy, and decrease side effects both during and after treatment. Cancer treatments can cause malnutrition. However, if patients can be followed by a dietitian during treatment and receive the correct number of calories and adequate protein, they are better equipped to heal, fight infections, and maintain energy. Each patient that is seen by a registered dietitian will receive an individualized, comprehensive nutrition care plan. 

If you have questions about this program, please contact Lauren Teague at 828-452-8092. For information about the Haywood Healthcare Foundation please visit www.haywoodhealthcarefoundation.org.