WASHINGTON—June 4 is National Cancer Survivors Day and The Cancer Project wants to build awareness among cancer survivors that making the right food choices can help improve survival. More than one-third of U.S. cancer deaths are due to poor diet. A healthy diet is a simple and effective way for cancer survivors to take charge of their health.

“Studies have shown that eating a low-fat diet rich in fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains after cancer diagnosis greatly reduces the chances of a cancer recurrence,” says Jennifer Reilly, R.D., a senior nutritionist with The Cancer Project. “Fatty foods like meat, cheese, and oils can boost hormone levels and cause a rise in cancer-causing hormones in the body.”

Scientific studies have shown that a low-fat vegetarian diet may cut cancer risk by 40 percent.

The Cancer Project offers the following experts for interviews on cancer and diet:

Paulette Chandler, M.D., M.P.H.

Dr. Paulette Chandler practices internal medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and is a Harvard Medical School faculty member. She is also director of Natural Healing Pathways Inc., a nonprofit organization helping people with cancer and other chronic diseases. Dr. Chandler teaches The Cancer Project’s free Food for Life Nutrition and Cooking Class Series for Cancer Prevention and Survival in Massachusetts.

Jennifer Reilly, R.D.

Jennifer Reilly is senior nutritionist for The Cancer Project. The Cancer Project is a collaborative effort of physicians, researchers, and nutritionists who have joined together to educate the public on the benefits of a healthy diet for cancer prevention and survival. Ms. Reilly developed the nationwide Food for Life Nutrition and Cooking Class Series for Cancer Prevention and Survival. She also helped write and produce the corresponding class handbook, The Survivor’s Handbook, and video, Eating Right for Cancer Survival. She is currently conducting a study funded by the Lance Armstrong Foundation evaluating how class participants’ dietary habits have been affected by the classes.

For an interview with an expert from The Cancer Project, please contact Susanne Forte at 202-244-5038, ext. 339, or sforte@cancerproject.org.

The Cancer Project is a collaborative effort of physicians, researchers, and nutritionists who have joined together to educate the public about the benefits of a healthy diet for cancer prevention and survival. Based in Washington, D.C., The Cancer Project is an affiliate of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

The Cancer Project
5100 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Ste. 400, Washington, DC 20016
Phone: 202-244-5038 | E-mail: info@cancerproject.org