Diet and Nutrition Webinar for Mesothelioma Patients

After a mesothelioma diagnosis and during treatment and recovery, the food you eat plays a significant role in how fast you heal and how much energy you have. 

On March 30, 2022, at 8 pm EDT, The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com will host a free webinar presenting information and education on diet and nutrition. 

The webinar will focus on making healthy choices, as well as the foods you can eat to manage symptoms and improve your quality of life during and after mesothelioma treatment.

Diet tips and strategies will include recipes, meal-planning and journaling methods specific to different treatments and mesothelioma types.

Tejal Parekh, a registered and licensed dietitian, and Karen Selby, a registered nurse, will co-host the information session and guide you through everything you need to know about a healthy mesothelioma diet. 

Who Should Attend the Mesothelioma Diet and Nutrition Webinar?

This informational session is a unique event directed at mesothelioma patients and their families, loved ones and anyone this rare cancer affects.

You should consider attending if you are:

• A mesothelioma patient
• A family member or friend of a mesothelioma patient
• A mesothelioma caregiver

At the end of the presentation, there will be a live Q&A in which Parekh and Nurse Selby will answer questions from attendees. A recorded version of the webinar will be sent via email to registrants and will be available upon request for anyone unable to attend the live session. 

Mesothelioma Diet and Nutrition Discussion Topics

Our experts designed this webinar to be appropriate for both newly diagnosed patients and those who have been living with mesothelioma for years. 

Webinar topics will include:

• Mesothelioma’s impact on nutrition status
• Mesothelioma symptoms that cause diet changes
• Preparing your body before treatment
• Dietary needs during mesothelioma treatment

Every patient is different, and many patients need to know what to expect during different types of treatment. This information is essential for patients undergoing mesothelioma multimodal therapy. 

For example, some patients may need to gain weight before therapy, and others may need to increase their protein intake. Different surgical procedures or radiation therapy for mesothelioma can impact your ability to eat well. 

The webinar hosts will discuss tips and strategies for managing your diet to deal with specific treatments such as:

• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation
• Immunotherapy

Parekh and Nurse Selby will review common recommendations before, during and after each treatment. They’ll also discuss the side effects of these therapies and how some foods can reduce inflammation and other symptoms.  

The webinar will include recipes and meal-planning tips for dealing with side effects such as: 

• Sore mouth and throat
• Changes in taste and smell
• Unwanted weight gain or loss
• Constipation and diarrhea

A vital topic for mesothelioma patients is food safety. Mesothelioma treatment can decrease immunity, making patients more susceptible to infection and illness. Following proper food safety and preparation can reduce the bacteria and viruses that lead to food poisoning. 

The hosts will close the presentation portion of the webinar with tips for caregivers, a list of foods to stock in your pantry and the benefits of meal planning and nutrition journaling. 

Throughout the presentation, attendees can ask questions for Parekh and Nurse Selby to address during the Q&A portion of the event. Questions are anonymous and an excellent opportunity to ask the experts about any diet and nutrition-related concerns or frustrations from your personal experience. 

Our Mesothelioma Diet and Nutrition Experts

Tejal Parekh

Tejal Parekh is a registered and licensed dietitian with more than 12 years of experience. She has worked closely with cancer patients for more than a decade. Her nutrition knowledge has helped many patients manage their mesothelioma symptoms and treatment side effects through knowledgeable diet and food choices.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics from Winthrop University in South Carolina. She completed her master’s degree in nutrition and dietetics at Georgia State University.

At the UF Health Cancer Center in Orlando, Parekh worked as an outpatient specialist focusing on oncology nutrition. While there, she taught cooking classes for cancer patients and hosted presentations at multidisciplinary conferences.

Parekh believes a specialized diet can improve mesothelioma patients’ quality of life. She understands how healthy habits can reduce cancer symptoms and get patients back to doing what they love most. 

Karen Selby, RN

Karen Selby is a registered nurse with decades of experience. She has assisted surgeons during thoracic procedures, including lung resections and transplants. Selby is a patient advocate at The Mesothelioma Center and provides excellent resources with the latest information to mesothelioma patients, their loved ones and caregivers.

Selby is a member of the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators. After a decade at The Mesothelioma Center, she has helped countless patients manage treatment issues and side effects. She knows that many patients have questions about managing symptoms through diet and nutrition.

Selby has written hundreds of articles on the best health practices for mesothelioma patients, and dietary habits are no exception. From this webinar, she believes patients and caregivers will find the answers they need regarding a healthy mesothelioma diet.