News & Blog

Get the latest updates about programs and services at the Center, with engaging and relevant content from our professionally licensed clinical staff and board-certified oncology dietitian.

Meet our Honoree: Kimberly Matthews

Kim Matthews is the Cancer Wellness Center’s first-ever recipient of the Extraordinary Contribution Award, recognizing a remarkable 28 years of service and leadership spent shaping the Center’s programs. Over nearly three decades, her compassion and …

Food Safety Starts Here

Written by Lori Bumbaco, MS, RDN, CSO, LDN, Oncology Dietitian Food Safety Basics During Cancer Treatment About 1 in 6 Americans gets sick from a foodborne illness each year. Anyone can get sick, but cancer and cancer treatment can weaken …

Color Your Plate for Health, Healing, and Cancer Survivorship

Written by Lori Bumbaco, MS, RDN, CSO, LDN, Oncology Dietitian August is one of the best months of the year to enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables in Illinois. Farmers’ markets, home gardens, and grocery stores are filled with colorful produce …

Cancer and Mental Health

Written by Carrie Callas, Executive Director Cancer is primarily understood as a physical disease, but for those who experience it, the emotional impact can be just as intense. From the moment of diagnosis, cancer …

Fire Up Flavor, Not Risk: Cancer-Smart Grilling Strategies

Written by Lori Bumbaco, MS, RDN, CSO, LDN, Oncology Dietitian Fire up the grill with health in mind! Summertime often means enjoying more food cooked on the grill or barbecue. As we fire up the grill, it is an important opportunity to learn …

Small Veggies, Big Wins for Your Health!

Written by Lori Bumbaco, MS, RDN, CSO, LDN, Oncology Dietitian Tiny bites and big benefits to be found in veggies! If you ask any nutrition expert, one of the most significant ways to promote wellness is to include more vegetables in your …

The Most Important Diet Change Is the One You Can Maintain

Written by Lori Bumbaco, MS, RDN, CSO, LDN, Oncology Dietitian The most important diet change is one that will last a long time and one that becomes a habit. Smaller, incremental changes in diets are typically more sustainable …

One Year at a Time

Written by Jean Cozier, friend of Cancer Wellness Center and breast cancer survivor. I had my mammogram last month. It’s been five years since cancer treatment, so it was the first regular screening exam I’d had in a while. I was diagnosed with …

A Planetary Health Diet: Eating for People and the Planet

Written by Lori Bumbaco, MS, RDN, CSO, LDN, Oncology Dietitian Did you know there is a science-based dietary pattern designed to promote human health and protect the planet, linking what we eat with how we care for life …

2026 Cancer-Fighting Foods: Nutritional Guide

Get more of our Oncology Dietitian-approved recipes, cooking videos, nutrition advice, and more, straight to your inbox! Sign up for our Nutrition Newsletter here. +January 2026 Beets Since the 16th century, beet juice has …

Community Corner

This past quarter has been filled with meaningful community partnerships and new opportunities to meet people where they are, striving towards our mission to improve health equity and access to support. Check out our blog to see where …

Discover the Power of Food and Nutrition

Written by Lori Bumbaco, MS, RDN, CSO, LDN, Oncology Dietitian Often, individuals who are diagnosed with cancer are interested in learning how food and beverage choices have the power to help us thrive. To get the most benefit from the foods and …