Karen Leung Foundation’s ovarian cancer talk, led by UK-registered senior dietitian Cassie Li, highlights nutrition’s role in boosting treatment outcomes and quality of life for patients.
Elevated Nutrition Needs
Cancer patients require 25-30 kcal/kg/day energy and 1-1.5g (or up to 2g)/kg/day protein—far above the 0.8-1g/kg for healthy adults—to combat malnutrition affecting at least one-third of cases. Guidelines from ESPEN and ESMO stress routine screening and early intervention, as muscle loss (25-60% at diagnosis) heightens treatment toxicity, reduces survival, and worsens quality of life.
Practical Management Tips
Address side effects like nausea (small frequent cold meals, avoid greasy), appetite loss (high-protein snacks), taste changes (lemon/strong flavors), diarrhea (low-fiber like bananas/rice), and constipation (high-fiber, hydration). High-protein foods (eggs, fish, tofu) and pre-treatment calorie boosts help preserve muscle
Debunking Myths
Sugar doesn’t uniquely “feed” cancer cells—all cells use glucose; no evidence supports avoiding chicken/beef or total fasting. Focus on balanced habits: exercise, fresh produce, limit fat/alcohol/smoking for prevention.
Proven Benefits
Studies show two daily high-calorie/protein supplements increase muscle mass, stabilize blood markers, and counter chemo toxicity in similar cancers like breast cancer.
Speaker
Cassie Li, Senior Registered Dietitian
Cassie Li, Senior Registered Dietitian, graduated from The Robert Gordon University, UK with a bachelor degree in Nutrition & Dietetics and completed her Master Degree from University of Glasgow, UK, in Public Health Nutrition.
Cassie works as a Clinical Dietitian in the UK since 2003. She worked as a Specialist Dietitian since 2004 in NHS hospitals in the UK before moving back to Hong Kong. She worked in the Department of Health in Hong Kong, healthcare company and she also provide free-lance Dietetic works. She provide dietetic advice to private clients, gives talks for various organizations, including Maggie’s Cancer Center in Hong Kong.
As well as being a healthcare professional, Cassie also enjoy healing people via various spiritual methods, including SRT. After being a Dietitian for over 10 years, she sees that health and wellbeing are not only limited to physical health but also mental and emotional health. As a Dietitian, SRT practitioner and Reiki healer, Cassie often takes a holistic approach to tackle various issues and her aim to help client to achieve a well- balanced and healthy life, so they can realize the dream life they wanted. Cassie cherished every opportunity to walk with her client to achieve a healthier, happier life. Becoming a Dietitian not only realized her childhood dream but it also realized her life mission to educate people on healthy diet and healthy lifestyle. She believes that foods should be delicious, fun and suit everyone’s health needs. Since food is such an integral part of everyone’s life, by improving patients’ diet, their quality of life and also their family’s quality of life also improves. She cherished every opportunity to walk with patient and their family through their journey.
Project Thrive Expert Session – The Importance of Diet with Cassie Li Presentation