Nutrition and Cancer from edX

Can cancer risk be reduced through a healthy diet or lifestyle? Many studies have been conducted on the role of nutrition and physical activity in cancer prevention. This has resulted in recommendations for cancer prevention. Far less research is conducted on nutrition and cancer progression, but the evidence is increasing that a healthy diet may also play a beneficial role for cancer survivors. Join this online course and learn more about the role of nutrition in the occurrence and progression of cancer. You will learn how nutrition is involved in cancer occurrence, cancer treatment, and progression. And you will discover what the evidence-base is for dietary guidelines.

This online course focuses on a wide range of dietary exposures (including vegetables, meat, dietary supplements, alcohol) and lifestyle factors (including body composition and physical activity) in relation to the occurrence and progression of the most common types of cancer, such as large bowel cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer.

For whom?

Dieticians and physicians often get questions from cancer patients about what they can do themselves to help their recovery process. After completing the course you will have gained a solid scientific basis to better weigh and interpret all the information available on nutrition and cancer and to take care of your own health and/or that of your patients.

This online course is especially valuable for professionals (in training) from various fields related to nutrition or cancer (e.g. nutritionists, epidemiologists, health policy makers, physicians, caregivers, nutrition educators, biologists and food scientists).

This course, is part of theNutrition and Disease Professional Certificate Program of Wageningen University & Research. Did you already complete Nutrition, Heart Disease and Diabetes? That is the other course in this Professional Certificate Program.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Study designs to investigate the relation between nutrition and cancer
Diet- and lifestyle-related risk factors for cancer development and survival
The mechanisms by which nutrition impacts cancer

Guidelines for primary and tertiary cancer prevention for the general public and for survivors
Understand the evidence-base for dietary guidelines

Study designs to investigate the relation between nutrition and cancer
Diet- and lifestyle-related risk factors for cancer development and survival
The mechanisms by which nutrition impacts cancer
Guidelines for primary and tertiary cancer prevention for the general public and for survivors
Understand the evidence-base for dietary guidelines

Syllabus

Module 1 Start with an introduction to the relation between nutrition and cancer development and progression, and discuss the different types of research designs by which this relation is studied.

Module 2Discuss dietary and lifestyle risk factors related to cancer occurrence, by outlining the current WCRF/IARC evidence-based recommendations for cancer prevention.

Module 3 Learn about the interaction between nutrition and genes, and how this can influence cancer occurrence.

Module 4Learn about the importance of dietary and lifestyle guidelines for the increasing group of cancer survivors.

Module 5 In this module you will learn about the adherence to guidelines and how important it is to have a clear and correct communication to the public. (This module is only accessible to verified learners.)

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Introduces the relation between nutrition and cancer development and progression, which is essential knowledge for health professionals and cancer patients

Focuses on a wide range of dietary exposures and lifestyle factors, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of their impact on cancer

Explores the interaction between nutrition and genes, providing a deeper understanding of the mechanisms by which nutrition influences cancer

Provides evidence-based guidelines for cancer prevention and survivorship, enabling learners to make informed decisions about their health

Taught by recognized researchers and experts in the field of nutrition and cancer, ensuring high-quality and up-to-date information

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Nutrition and Cancer with these activities:

Review previous coursework or readings on nutrition and health

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Strengthens foundational knowledge and prepares students for the course content.

Browse courses on Nutrition

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Identify relevant previous coursework or readings
Review key concepts and theories
Refresh understanding of fundamental principles

Organize and summarize course notes and materials

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Enhances information retention and facilitates efficient review of course content.

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Create a system for organizing notes and materials
Summarize and consolidate key points from lectures and readings
Identify and categorize important concepts

Read 'Practical Guide to the Prevention of Cancer' by Peter Boyle

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Provides an overview of the link between nutrition and cancer and the evidence for dietary and lifestyle recommendations for cancer prevention.

View Health Assessment in Nursing Australia and New... on Amazon

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Identify and explain the different types of cancer
Describe the role of nutrition in cancer development and prevention
Summarize the evidence for the relationship between specific foods and cancer risk

Five other activities

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Follow video tutorials on cancer nutrition research methods

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Provides structured guidance on conducting research in cancer nutrition, enhancing understanding of study designs and methodologies.

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Identify reputable sources for video tutorials
Watch tutorials on research methods in cancer nutrition
Take notes on key concepts and techniques

Participate in online discussions on cancer nutrition

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Fosters knowledge exchange and critical thinking through peer interactions and discussions.

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Join online forums or discussion groups
Engage in discussions on cancer nutrition topics
Share knowledge and perspectives, and learn from others

Create a dietary guidelines document for a specific population

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Applies the knowledge gained from the course to a practical setting, reinforcing understanding of dietary recommendations for different populations.

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Identify the target population and their specific nutritional needs
Review the scientific evidence on nutrition and cancer prevention
Develop dietary guidelines based on the evidence and population needs
Write and format the guidelines document

Attend a workshop on nutrition counseling for cancer patients

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Provides practical skills and insights into communicating nutrition recommendations to cancer patients, fostering application of knowledge.

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Attend the workshop and participate actively
Identify and register for relevant workshops
Practice nutrition counseling techniques

Volunteer at a local cancer support group

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Offers practical experience in providing support and guidance to cancer patients and their families, enhancing understanding of the impact of nutrition on their well-being.

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Identify and contact local cancer support groups
Inquire about volunteer opportunities
Provide support and assistance to cancer patients and their families

Career center

Learners who complete Nutrition and Cancer will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Cancer Researcher

As a Cancer Researcher, your goal is to investigate the causes and treatments of cancer. This course will give you an in-depth understanding of the relation between nutrition and cancer development and progression. It will also teach you about the different types of research designs used to investigate this relation and develop effective cancer prevention and treatment strategies.

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Oncologist

As an Oncologist, you play a vital role in the care of cancer patients. This course will give you an in-depth understanding of the relation between nutrition and cancer development and progression. It can help you develop optimal nutrition plans for your patients, which can improve their outcomes.

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Nutrition Educator

As a Nutrition Educator, your job is to teach people about nutrition and healthy eating. This course can teach you about the mechanisms by which nutrition impacts cancer and guidelines for primary and tertiary cancer prevention for the general public and for survivors. It also helps teach you how to understand the evidence-base for dietary guidelines so that you can more effectively educate your clients about cancer prevention and healthy eating.

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Registered Dietitian

As a Registered Dietitian, your job is to provide nutrition counseling and advice to individuals and groups. This course can teach you about the dietary and lifestyle risk factors related to cancer occurrence and survival. It will help you to develop and implement nutrition interventions that can help your patients prevent or manage cancer.

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Health Communicator

As a Health Communicator, it is your job to inform the public about health issues. This course will teach you about nutrition and cancer. You will learn about the relation between nutrition and cancer development and progression, as well as the dietary and lifestyle risk factors related to cancer occurrence and survival. This will help you to communicate information about cancer prevention and survivorship to the public in a clear and accurate way.

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Medical Writer

As a Medical Writer, your job is to create written content on medical topics. This course will teach you about the different types of research designs used to investigate the relation between nutrition and cancer. You will also learn about the mechanisms by which nutrition impacts cancer, and the dietary and lifestyle risk factors related to cancer occurrence and survival. This course can help you to write accurate and informative content on cancer prevention and survivorship.

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Public Health Nutritionist

As a Public Health Nutritionist, your job is to promote healthy eating and prevent chronic diseases. This course will teach you about the relation between nutrition and cancer development and progression. You will also learn about the dietary and lifestyle risk factors related to cancer occurrence and survival. This will help you to develop and implement effective public health nutrition programs that can help to prevent cancer.

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Epidemiologist

As an Epidemiologist, your job is to investigate the causes of disease, including cancer. This course will teach you about study designs to investigate the relation between nutrition and cancer. It goes over different types of research and the mechanisms through which nutrition impacts cancer, allowing you to better understand how nutrition can play a role in cancer prevention and cancer progression.

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Health Policy Maker

As a Health Policy Maker, you are in charge of developing and implementing health policy at the federal, state and local level. This course teaches you the guidelines for preventing cancer, both in primary and tertiary prevention for the general public and for survivors. This course will help you understand the evidence-base for dietary guidelines so that you can make more informed decisions for your constituents.

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Nutritionist

As a Nutritionist, your job is to promote healthy eating and prevent chronic diseases. This course will teach you about the relation between nutrition and cancer development and progression. You will also learn about the dietary and lifestyle risk factors related to cancer occurrence and survival. This course will help you to develop and implement effective nutrition interventions that can help to prevent cancer.

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Biologist

As a Biologist, your knowledge of biological processes and systems can be applied to cancer research. This course will teach you about the relation between nutrition and cancer development and progression. You will also learn about the mechanisms by which nutrition impacts cancer, and the different types of research designs used to investigate this relation.

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Physician

As a Physician who consults with cancer patients, you must be able to provide medical and lifestyle advice as a trusted figure. This course goes over diet- and lifestyle-related risk factors for cancer development and survival. It will help teach you the mechanisms by which nutrition impacts cancer, informing you on what to look for and what to recommend to your patients.

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Dietitian

As a Dietitian who advises cancer patients on their nutrition and lifestyle, you can be quite successful if you can properly inform yourself on the risks of different diets and how they affect cancer. This course will teach you about the relation between nutrition and the development and progression of cancer so that you can make informed decisions about what kind of foods to recommend to cancer patients regarding both cancer prevention and progression.

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Food Scientist

As a Food Scientist, your work is focused on the development and improvement of food products. This course can teach you about the dietary and lifestyle risk factors related to cancer occurrence and survival. It goes over the interaction between nutrition and genes and how this can influence cancer occurrence. This course will help you understand food and nutrition better so that you can develop and improve food products with health benefits in mind.

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Caregiver

As a Caregiver, you provide support and assistance to cancer patients. This course can teach you about nutrition impacts cancer and how to assist your patients with dietary and lifestyle choices.

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