Revised: April 2008
Free Nutrition Information… Just a call or click away!
Improved Service for Cancer-related Concerns
Do your patients have diet and nutrition-related questions? If so, direct them to Dial-A-Dietitian (DAD). In BC, DAD is on the leading edge of dietetic practice, providing free evidence-based nutrition information and brief counselling by telephone to the public and healthcare providers.
In 2007, BC Cancer Agency Oncology Nutrition initiated a partnership with Dial-A-Dietitian to provide a dietitian who specializes in oncology. This dietitian can answer nutrition- and cancer-related questions for patients, their families, health professionals and the public at large.
The DAD oncology dietitian answers diet-related questions for patients prior to starting treatment, after treatment and for cancer prevention. Typical questions may include:
- I have breast cancer. Is it safe for me to eat soy and flax?
- I’ve just been diagnosed with cancer. Should I be following a special diet?
- I had surgery for colon cancer. What type of diet should I be following?
- I've heard certain foods (milk (or other dairy products), sugar, chicken or beef) will make my cancer worse. Is this true?
Questions related to symptoms experienced as a result of cancer treatment should be directed to the dietitians at the BC Cancer Agency. Dial-A-Dietitian services do not replace medical counsel and other healthcare services available in a caller’s community.
Dial-A-Dietitian is funded by the BC Ministry of Health and is closely aligned with the BC NurseLine. Callers speak with registered dietitians who answer nutrition questions and can guide callers to other relevant resources. Translation services are available in 130 languages. Dial-A-Dietitian can also provide promotional leaflets for office use. The call centre is open 9-5 Monday through Friday; Greater Vancouver 604.732.9191, Toll-free in BC 1.800.667.3438. www.dialadietitian.org