Read time: 2 minutes.
Should you avoid sugar when you are living with lung cancer? Or should you eat anything you want? Are supplements something you need to consider? In this episode, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) survivor Diane Beall shares how she approaches nutrition, from mindful eating to her go-to snacks for low-appetite days. Thoracic oncologist Jared Weiss, MD, University of North Carolina, joins Diane and hosts Ann Steagall and Misty Shields, MD, to discuss sugar and supplements, explain why he often recommends liberalizing a cancer patient's diet, and share practical, drug-specific nutrition tips—from managing the symptoms that come with targeted therapies to coping with taste changes on tarlatamab.
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Featured Guests:
Diane Beall, non-small cell lung cancer survivor
Diane Beall was diagnosed with RET-positive, stage IV non-small cell lung cancer in October 2022. A self-described "mindful eater," Diane developed her own nutrition approach with guidance from oncology dietitians, leaning on high-protein snacks, small frequent meals, and a low-sugar, low-fat diet to manage her health and side effects. She is an active member of LUNGevity's weekly Tuesday virtual meetups.
Think hard about what you've eaten that day and maybe what you need to make up at dinnertime or after dinner in a snack.
-Diane Beall, non-small cell lung cancer survivor
Jared Weiss, MD, thoracic oncologist
Dr. Jared Weiss is a Professor of Medicine and Section Chief of Thoracic and Head/Neck Oncology at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He earned his medical degree from Yale University School of Medicine, completed his residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and completed his fellowship in hematology/oncology at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Weiss's clinical practice and research focus on lung and head/neck cancer, with a particular interest in personalized immunotherapy.
My advice as a database guy is that if you're considering a supplement, the first question is to ask, and you can often ask with labs: am I actually deficient in this thing?
-Dr. Jared Weiss, thoracic oncologist
Key Topics Discussed in This Episode:
- Diane's nutrition journey: how she built her own eating plan after diagnosis, and why she recommends every patient work with a nutritionist
- Getting enough protein and calories: practical, low-effort strategies for days when appetite is low
- Dr. Weiss's approach to nutrition in the clinic: why hydration comes first, and why correcting a true deficiency helps more than adding supplements "just in case"
- Sugar, supplements, and common myths: what the evidence actually says, and why more isn't always better
- Why liberalizing your diet can improve quality of life: Dr. Weiss explains why he often encourages cancer patients to eat the foods they enjoy
- Supporting a loved one through food: how care partners can help without overstepping
- Managing side effects through nutrition: tips for diarrhea on targeted therapies, taste changes on tarlatamab, and cancer-related fatigue
Resources & Support:
- Ina, LUNGevity's Intelligent Nutrition Assistant – 24/7 personalized nutrition support for people with lung cancer
- Virtual Meetups – connect with other lung cancer patients and survivors
- The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen by Rebecca Katz – the cookbook Diane credits with many of her go-to recipes and side-effect-friendly cooking tips
- Learn more about Cachexia – characterized by weight loss, anorexia, physical weakness, lack of energy, and anemia.
- LUNGevity Online Communities – online groups for patients and care partners
- LUNGevity Peer-to-Peer Program – connecting people diagnosed with lung cancer to trained survivor mentors
- See all of LUNGevity Support Services