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EP 40 - The Importance of Nutrition in Cancer Care, Part 1

Air Date: 5/16/18
Duration: 28:14
Host: Dr. Ward Bond
Guest Bio: Susan Bratton, Founder of Savor Health
SusanBrattonSusan Bratton started Savor Health after losing a close friend to a brain tumor and, through that experience, becoming aware of the significant unmet nutritional needs of people with cancer.  Struck by the fact that her friend was told “nutrition doesn’t matter” and “eat whatever you want,” Susan read the evidence-based literature on the subject, interviewed oncologists, oncology nurses and oncology dietitians, as well as patients and caregivers, and found that, in fact, nutrition does matter in oncology. Armed with solid scientific evidence supporting the clinical and quality of life benefits of proper nutrition, Susan left Wall Street and created Savor Health, a provider of personalized and practical nutrition solutions for cancer patients, their caregivers and health enterprises. Susan brings to Savor Health over 25 years of industry experience in healthcare and business as well as expertise in strategy, finance and management.

Susan is an outspoken and tireless advocate for cancer patients receiving proper nutrition and nutrition support before, during and after treatment. She strongly believes that the U. S. healthcare system requires new innovation to transform it into a more holistic and integrated system of care whereby multiple disciplines coordinate care together for the benefit of the whole patient. As part of this, her goal is for nutrition to be an integral component of such an integrated cancer care delivery system.  Susan’s commitment to the field of oncology extends beyond Savor Health to volunteer work at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in pediatrics and as a runner for Fred’s Team to raise money for research at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Susan participated in the Cancer Moonshot in June of 2016 where she was a breakout session group “igniter” tasked with starting and leading discussion. Susan’s first book, the Meals to Heal Cancer Cookbook, was published in March 2016.


In addition to her role as CEO of Savor Health, Susan speaks nationally about the importance of ensuring proper nutrition in the cancer patient and on topics including leadership and startups. She has been a speaker at the Harvard Medical School’s Career Advancement and Leadership Skills for Women in Healthcare, ESMO World Congress on GI Cancer, BioPharm America, AARP Live @50+, Lake Nona Impact Forum, and IIR ePharma Summit.  Prior to starting Savor Health, Susan had a successful career on Wall Street as a healthcare services investment banker working at prestigious firms including Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, Wasserstein Perella and Robertson Stephens. Susan earned a B.A. from Duke University and M.B.A. from the University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business.
  • Book Title: The Meals to Heal Cookbook
  • Guest Facebook Account: www.facebook.com/SavorHealth1
  • Guest Twitter Account: @savor_health
EP 40 - The Importance of Nutrition in Cancer Care, Part 1
Nutrition matters before, during and after cancer treatment.

Susan Bratton advocates for nutritional integration in cancer treatment after losing a close friend to brain cancer. Her friend was told nutrition doesn’t matter. She dove into research, finding evidence-based nutritional impact. She left her Wall Street job to found her own oncology nutrition company.

There is no structure in place in the healthcare delivery system to pay for nutritional counseling and intervention.

Poor nutrition impacts a cancer patient’s response to treatment. Malnourished patients have higher rates of toxicity and complication. These impact how well the treatment works. Cancer and its treatment cause nutrition-related side effects.

A simple way to start addressing nutrition is with the Mediterranean diet. Susan modifies this diet based on individual patient needs.

Managing nutrition is something proactive that cancer patients can do to support their healing.

Listen as Susan joins Dr. Bond to share how nutrition impacts cancer recovery.

Audio / Radio Segments