Children's Oncology promotes Nutrition Week focusing on health and quality of life
The program brought together patients, families, and staff to practically and accessibly demonstrate how nutrition is an essential part of oncological care
Between the 25th and 29th of this month, the Octávio Lobo Children's Oncology Hospital (Hoiol), in Belém, held Nutrition Week, an event that united science, practice, and affection for patients, companions, and staff of the unit. The program aimed to bring technical information closer to everyday life, showing how nutrition can be a powerful ally in oncological treatment and also in the routine of caregivers.
According to nutritionist and supervisor of the Hoiol nutrition team, Bianca Oliveira, the goal was to turn knowledge into practice. “We brought technical knowledge closer to the daily lives of users, showing how nutrition can be a powerful ally. Our goal was to share information in an accessible way, but always based on evidence, so that patients, companions, and staff understand that nutrition is an essential part of care and not just a detail,” she explained.
During the week, practical workshops on supplementation, tastings of adapted recipes, discussion circles, and interactive activities were held in the hospital's sectors. In the chemotherapy waiting room, for example, patients and families received explanatory folders and were able to try a cake made with supplement.
Among the participants, administrative assistant Amanda Santos, 21, highlighted the learning about dietary supplements and easy-to-prepare recipes. “The topic of supplementation was very interesting. I learned practical recipes and this has helped me at home. I always share this information with my family because I believe it is important to pass on this knowledge,” she said.
Administrative assistant Raquel Silva also approved of the initiative and highlighted the change in eating habits after participating in the program. “The tastings were what I liked the most. I learned to eat better with what I already have in the fridge, prioritizing fruits, seeds, and chia. I started sharing this information mainly with my mother and sister, because food ends up being collective at home,” she reported.
Beyond the commemorative week, the hospital's nutrition team emphasizes that nutrition plays a fundamental role in oncological treatment. “Nutrition is as important as chemotherapy or radiotherapy. It strengthens the immune system, helps maintain weight and muscle mass, reduces complications, and improves response to treatment. In children and adolescents, the impact is even greater, because in addition to fighting the disease, we need to ensure that they continue to grow and develop. It is a clinical care, but also a human one,” said Bianca.
Housewife Celina Sousa, 55, is the grandmother of Davi Henrique, 12, a patient at Hoiol for almost a month. The boy was diagnosed with lymphoma after presenting fever, diarrhea, chest pain, and constant fatigue. Since the beginning of her grandson's treatment, Celina says she has adopted significant changes in the family's habits. “Here (at Hoiol) we learned what can and cannot be eaten. He used to love fatty foods and bologna, for example, but now we know we need to eat more fruits and have more balanced meals. The nutrition team guides us, supports us, and, thank God, Davi is progressing well,” she said.
Service: Accredited as a High Complexity Oncology Unit (Unacon), Hoiol is a reference in the Amazon region for the diagnosis and specialized treatment of childhood and adolescent cancer, in the age group between 0 and 19 years. Currently, the unit, managed by the Instituto Diretrizes (ID), in partnership with the State Department of Public Health (Sespa), serves more than 900 patients from 144 municipalities in Pará and neighboring states.
Text: Ellyson Ramos - Ascom Hoiol
