Angie Lord, RD, RYT-200, is the oncology dietitian at the Inova Alexandria Hospital location of the Inova Schar Cancer Institute. She has been a dietitian for over 15 years in community, acute and outpatient settings around the country. In her current role, she helps cancer patients undergoing radiation meet their nutritional needs during cancer treatment and survivorship. She is also a Yoga 4 Cancer trained yoga instructor and promotes yoga as self-care for patients and caregivers.
In a few sentences, can you explain the role of a dietician?
As an oncology registered dietitian (RD), I work with cancer patients everyday undergoing radiation to treat their various cancers by providing nutrition information and strategies to help them manage side effects caused by cancer and/or cancer treatments. I also work with cancer survivors on lifestyle changes to prevent recurrence.
What is the difference between a registered dietitian (RD) and a nutritionist?
Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist. RD’s must get at least a bachelor’s degree in an accredited nutrition curriculum, complete a 1,200 hour extensive supervised internship, pass an exam and maintain continuing education credits throughout their career.
Is your role patient-facing?
Yes, I spend about 60% of my time directly interacting with patients and/or family members. The rest of my time is spent on developing programs for patients and documenting visits in the medical record.
Why is it important for someone affected by lung cancer to have a dietician on their medical team?
Lung cancer is one of several cancers that leads to weight loss in many patients due to poor appetite, fatigue, and/or hypermetabolism. Having a dietitian on your care team means having someone to turn to that will specifically help you with your food intake during treatments. Maintaining weight and staying nourished during treatment leads to better outcomes, less hospitalizations and fewer interruptions in treatment.
What’s the most common misconception patients have about dieticians/ what dieticians do?
Dietitians are not the food police and we do not judge people for what they eat.
What are some tips you have for patients and caregivers to help them work better with their dietician or healthcare provider in general?
Dietitians can help patients best when they are honest about what they are eating, not what patients think dietitians want to hear. Providing a current list of medications (including vitamin and herbal supplements) to the RD can help dietitians assess for interactions that may have a negative impact on treatment or the patient’s ability to eat well.
What is a question you wish more patients would ask?
“How many calories should I be eating daily?” Weight maintenance is the number one thing that patients can do related to nutrition during treatment to be successful and calories are really important to make that happen. After treatment, getting to and maintaining a healthy weight (as defined by a BMI in the normal range) reduces your risk of cancer recurrence the most.
What type of patient education and support resources have you found most useful? What type of education and resources do you recommend to patients and caregivers?
I give out the American Institute of Cancer Research’s Nutrition During Cancer Treatment booklet and the American Cancer Society’s Nutrition for the Person with Cancer During Treatment booklet most often for patients in treatment. They provide a great overview of nutrition-related strategies for a variety of symptoms that could occur during treatment. As patients are finishing treatment, I like to use the American Institute of Cancer Research’s Blueprint to Beat Cancer infographic to discuss survivorship recommendations.
In your own opinion, what is a patient’s “secret weapon”?
During treatment, I suggest high calorie, high protein smoothies or shakes most often to keep patients strong and healthy. If you can add fruits and vegetables to them, all the better!
What motivated you to become a dietician?
My mom has been a diabetic since she was 5 years old and I’ve spent my whole life watching her manage her disease successfully by following a healthy diet. Since 7th grade, I’ve known that I wanted to help people make food choices that are good for them.
What do you find most rewarding about your job?
As an oncology dietitian, I love getting to celebrate with patients as they ring the bell at the end of their treatment. If they ask to take their picture with me, it’s an added bonus because I know that means I made a difference to them during their radiation.
What role do you think advocacy plays or can play in your field?
Advocacy in the oncology dietitian world means trying to get nutrition services bundled for payment as an integral part of cancer treatment, just like they are in diabetes and renal care. The 2020 Commission on Cancer accredition standards require that “Oncology nutrition services are provided, on-site or by referral, by a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist,” so we are slowly but surely starting to see advocacy at the national level pay off.
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone newly diagnosed with lung cancer?
I would encourage them to accept help when people offer it, whether that be from members of the cancer care team, loved ones, or friends. Lung cancer is not something anyone should have to do alone!
What gives you hope for people living with lung cancer?
I am filled with hope every time I see a lung cancer patient finish their radiation treatment looking stronger and better than when they started.
Related Reading:
- Nutrition Resource: Ina®, your personal, “Intelligent Nutrition Assistant"
- Are Herbs and Spice Beneficial for Lung Cancer Patients?
- Does a Cancer Patient Need Dietary Supplements?
Meet Your Medical Team blog series gives lung cancer patients insight into the role and importance of each medical specialist that they encounter through their diagnosis and treatment. These interviews are intended to help patients communicate better with their healthcare providers and become better advocates in their own care.
Learn more about the different types of medical experts that make up your medical team in the Lung Cancer 101 section of LUNGevity’s website.