- 19 May 2025
Cancer: the role of nutrition & lifestyle
HOSTED BY DOCTORS FOR NUTRITION
This Food Vitals webinar explored the evidence that a plant-based diet and lifestyle can prevent a diagnosis of cancer.
Cancer remains a major public health concern in Australia and New Zealand, with diagnoses expected to exceed 200,000 annually in Australia by 2034 and 25,000 cases per year in New Zealand. This rising burden places significant pressure on healthcare systems, driving up costs and demand for oncology services.
Diet is a major modifiable risk factor. The Western diet—high in processed foods, saturated fats, and animal protein—promotes chronic inflammation and ranks high on the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), contributing to cancer development via immune dysfunction and oxidative stress.
In contrast, whole food plant-based (WFPB) diets are rich in fibre, antioxidants, and phytonutrients, offering anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits that may reduce cancer risk. For those undergoing treatment, WFPB diets can also enhance immune function and support recovery.
GPs and related healthcare professionals play a key role in prevention and early detection. This webinar will equip healthcare professionals with practical, evidence-based guidance on using plant-based nutrition and lifestyle strategies to reduce cancer risk and support long-term health.
Following the recorded presentation was a question and answer session, answered live by Dr Handolias.
Learning objectives
By the end of this webinar, attendees will be able to:
- Describe two pathophysiological processes contributing to an increased risk of carcinogenesis.
- Identify at least three lifestyle interventions that can be beneficial for preventing a cancer diagnosis.
- Name tools and techniques to support patients in transitioning to a whole food plant-based diet to decrease their cancer risk.
Speaker
Despina is a clinical medical oncologist with over 15 years of experience in private practice. She has previously worked in Australia and the UK in both clinical and research roles. Despina earned a research higher degree (MD) from the University of Melbourne and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, specialising in therapeutic and molecular oncology. Her work has resulted in several peer-reviewed publications in this field.
Her clinical interests include gastrointestinal cancers, melanoma, and lung cancer. She has a special interest in integrating lifestyle medicine in cancer care for risk reduction. Despina is a board-certified lifestyle medicine physician (2021) and a member of the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine (ASLM). She actively promotes lifestyle medicine, with an emphasis on nutrition in clinical practice and through social media platforms (@veganoncologist) to empower patients and the general community through evidence-driven education on lifestyle measures to reduce cancer risk. She’s an invited speaker by local and international community and medical groups, on the impact of nutrition and other lifestyle measures in cancer care.
CPD hours
This activity is approved for:
- 2.5 CPD hours (Educational Activities) with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
- 2.5 PDP hours with the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM)
- 2.5 CME hours with the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine (IBLM) toward the Lifestyle Medicine Maintenance of Certification (MOC).
CPD hours will be awarded upon viewing the webinar, completing a short quiz and reviewing two brief accompanying papers.
Access
Given the digital nature and immediate accessibility of our on-demand webinars, all associated fees are non-refundable. Paid members will be able to access the webinar recordings for free. Please see our refund policy here.
