On a recent afternoon in their brightly lit kitchen, cancer survivors Patricia Rhodes and Evette Knight and others gathered around a convection oven and a skillet full of mushrooms. Cancer treatment dietitian Megan Laszlo, RD, explained why they can’t stir them yet. “We’ll try not to stir them until they’re browned,” she said.
Even with her mask on, Rhodes, who successfully survived ovarian cancer a year ago, could smell the delicious food. “You’re right, no need to stir,” she said, flipping sautéed mushrooms. Nearby, Knight chopped green onions for mushroom fried rice, while others added milk to a pot for a cup of hot chocolate with mushroom powder.
Research shows that mushrooms can help support the activity of cancer-fighting immune cells. Mushrooms are the focus of the Nutrition in the Kitchen course. The course is part of Cedars-Sinai’s Health, Resilience, and Survivorship program to support cancer patients and their families. Health, Resilience, and Survivorship recently moved to a new, purpose-built facility and resumed some in-person classes for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
In addition to a kitchen area with light wood cabinets, stainless steel countertops and gleaming appliances, the space also features exercise equipment that can be easily stowed away for yoga classes, as well as additional rooms for other gatherings and a dedicated medical clinic upstairs.
Arash Asher, MD, director of cancer rehabilitation and survivorship at Cedars-Sinai Cancer Center, who joined the academic medical center in 2008, said that while cancer patients often have a clear treatment plan once they are cured of cancer, they rarely have guidance on how to overcome the physical, psychological and survivorship challenges that come with the disease and treatment.
“Someone once said that a person can be ‘free from disease,’ but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they don’t have disease,” Asher said. “I’ve always kept that quote in mind, and one of the main goals of our project is to provide a roadmap to help people deal with some of these issues.”
What began as a simple rehabilitation clinic has now evolved into an integrated team of rehabilitation physicians, nurse practitioners, physical therapists, art therapists, neuropsychologists, social workers and nutritionists.
Wellness, resilience, and survival activities focus on “mind, body, and soul,” Asher said, and include everything from movement and gentle yoga to art, mindfulness, meaningful living, and healthy habits. There’s even a book club, run by a literature professor, that looks at literature from the perspective of a cancer survivor.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Asher and his team adapted and offered these courses as a virtual experience.
“Everything is moving so fast, and we’re still able to maintain some sense of community,” Asher said. “Classes like our chemo brain class, called Out of the Fog, are attracting people from all over the country who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend — which is great news in these difficult times.”
Knight, an interior designer in Los Angeles, underwent radiation treatment for breast cancer in 2020. In late 2021, her oncologist referred her to the Center for Wellness, Resilience, and Survival. She said art therapy sessions and an exercise program helped her cope with joint pain, fatigue, and other side effects of treatment.
“Being here and playing sports has just been a godsend,” Knight said. “It’s inspired me to get up and go out and play sports, and my balance has improved, my stamina has improved, and it’s helped me emotionally.”
Knight said being able to connect with people who understood what she was going through was a lifeline for her.
“Patients and their families often need support as they adjust to a new normal after living with cancer,” said Scott Irwin, MD, PhD, director of patient and family support programs at Cedars-Sinai Cancer Center. “Resuming favorite activities and finding joy in everyday life are critical, and moving Wellness, Resilience and Survivorship to a new facility gives us the opportunity to maximize our support program.”
“This is a wonderful addition to our in-person programs,” Asher said. “What we eat can have a significant impact on our overall health, quality of life, and recovery, but as physicians, we often don’t have the time to educate patients on the benefits of home cooking, plant-based cooking, and details like how to combine turmeric and other herbs, how to choose eggplant, or even how to cut an onion.”
Knight said she was grateful for the opportunity to improve her nutritional knowledge with the help of a dietitian who specializes in cancer.
“I knew there were a lot of things I could do nutritionally to improve my health, but I wasn’t doing them,” she said. “So I wanted to get advice from a group that understands cancer and cancer survival.”
After the class, the students sampled the fruits of their labor and shared their enthusiasm for what they had learned. Rhodes said she would take her newfound knowledge home with her.
“It’s fun and rewarding,” Rhodes said. “Once you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, you need a nutrient-rich plant-based diet and exercise to reduce the risk of recurrence.”
Asher noted that another important aspect of in-person programming is creating a community where participants can learn from and lean on each other, since loneliness is associated with recurrence of many types of cancer.
“There is no medicine that can solve this problem the way human interaction, like sitting with another person, can,” Asher said. “The way we live, the way we think, the way we behave, the way we discipline ourselves, has an impact, and not just on how we feel. We are increasingly realizing that the way we live affects how long we live, and of course, the quality of our lives.”
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Post time: Jun-06-2025