Q&A with Andrea Hill, Nutritionist
What service do you provide?
Holistic nutrition education and consulting services. This is an individualized approach to wellness whereby all areas of the whole person are considered such as lifestyle, emotions, and mindset, in addition to diet.
When did you start partnering with BCF and why?
It’s been a few years. BCF’s Chief Administrator, Janette reached out to me a while back and asked if I would be interested in offering nutritional support to the Wellness Program members who had questions about their nutrition.
If I recall correctly, some women had concerns and questions about how to eat while undergoing their medical treatments, how to navigate some of the side effects, and what a healthy diet should ultimately look like once treatments were behind them.
It felt like a wonderful opportunity to have a positive impact within the community.
How does nutrition help breast cancer patients and their families?
How to nourish your body is just one less thing breast cancer patients and their families need to worry about during this time. How you approach your diet two days before your treatments (especially chemotherapy), the day of your treatments and the few days following treatments can really make a difference in how the person feels, how it can mitigate side effects, and how quickly they might bounce back between those treatments.
Would you like to share nutrition tips to help breast cancer patients during treatments and survivors after breast cancer?
It’s okay to feel whatever you’re going to feel throughout this journey. While the disease is the same, each individual’s experience with it is unique. General tips I suppose would be to stay hydrated and energized with water, herbal teas, and mineral broth, eat whole foods (especially vegetables), don’t forget your protein, and keep added sugars and processed foods out of the diet as much as possible.
It’s also important to put aside a little time each day for self-care whether that is to sit in nature, read a few pages of a good book, meditate, breathe deeply, or practice a hobby. Even 10 minutes can make a huge difference in our mindset and stress level.
Can you tell us a memorable experience since being part of our Wellness Program?
I recall one particular lady that I was fortunate enough to work with through the Wellness Program. She had asked to meet with me after her first couple of chemo treatments because they did not go very well for her. She was feeling a bit discouraged and overwhelmed.
After our first session, she came back to see me to report a much smoother experience and a quicker recovery time after her following treatment. I didn’t see her again after that day. I could only assume that she went on to finish her treatment plan and hoped all went well.
Months later, I bumped into her at the supermarket. I actually didn’t recognize her because her hair had grown back and was a different color. She looked healthy and was all smiles. We had a lovely chat, and she thanked me again for the help. Said it made a huge difference. It was wonderful to be able to see how this experience comes full circle. I was very grateful that I could be a part of this lady’s experience. I often reflect on it fondly.
What is your favorite healthy recipe?
Love my Falafel 🙂
An interesting fact about you?
I am of Greek-Cypriot origin. My parents are both from Cyprus. I was born and raised in Canada 🙂