Class Central is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Wageningen University

Nutrition and Cancer

Wageningen University via edX

Overview

Can cancer risk be reduced through a healthy diet or lifestyle? Many studies have been conducted on the role of nutrition and physical activity in cancer prevention. This has resulted in recommendations for cancer prevention. Far less research is conducted on nutrition and cancer progression, but the evidence is increasing that a healthy diet may also play a beneficial role for cancer survivors. Join this online course and learn more about the role of nutrition in the occurrence and progression of cancer. You will learn how nutrition is involved in cancer occurrence, cancer treatment, and progression. And you will discover what the evidence-base is for dietary guidelines.

This online course focuses on a wide range of dietary exposures (including vegetables, meat, dietary supplements, alcohol) and lifestyle factors (including body composition and physical activity) in relation to the occurrence and progression of the most common types of cancer, such as large bowel cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer.

For whom?

Dieticians and physicians often get questions from cancer patients about what they can do themselves to help their recovery process. After completing the course you will have gained a solid scientific basis to better weigh and interpret all the information available on nutrition and cancer and to take care of your own health and/or that of your patients.

This online course is especially valuable for professionals (in training) from various fields related to nutrition or cancer (e.g. nutritionists, epidemiologists, health policy makers, physicians, caregivers, nutrition educators, biologists and food scientists).

This course, is part of theNutrition and Disease Professional Certificate Program of Wageningen University & Research. Did you already complete Nutrition, Heart Disease and Diabetes? That is the other course in this Professional Certificate Program.

Syllabus

Module 1
Start with an introduction to the relation between nutrition and cancer development and progression, and discuss the different types of research designs by which this relation is studied.

Module 2
Discuss dietary and lifestyle risk factors related to cancer occurrence, by outlining the current WCRF/IARC evidence-based recommendations for cancer prevention.

Module 3
Learn about the interaction between nutrition and genes, and how this can influence cancer occurrence.

Module 4
Learn about the importance of dietary and lifestyle guidelines for the increasing group of cancer survivors.

Module 5
In this module you will learn about the adherence to guidelines and how important it is to have a clear and correct communication to the public. (This module is only accessible to verified learners.)

Taught by

Ellen Kampman, Fränzel van Duijnhoven and Dieuwertje Kok

Reviews

4.4 rating, based on 326 Class Central reviews

4.3 rating at edX based on 9 ratings

Start your review of Nutrition and Cancer

  • A very nice class. Well organized and taught by researchers from a great institute. Still, I think, the name is misleading. There is not much direct information about nutrition and cancer, as the title suggests! There is a lot of information…
  • A highly insightful course for anyone to pursue. This great course introduces most aspects from prevention to survival, and even on press reporting. Of great help for anyone to access information and research interests would be the topics on typ…
  • You will learn about the Wold Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) recommendations for cancer prevention, the types of research in cancer and nutrition. There is additional learning in critically analysing media communication around nutrition and cancer. I did this course for personal growth as a cancer survivor - highly recommend!
  • Brilliant course, logical, interesting and assessments are good. Two of the video's glitched and took longer to play but that may have been my end? Thank you for such an interesting, research based and practical how to course.
  • Not as extensive or carefully edited as the Cardiometabolic Disease class but still solid and full of compelling information.
  • Anonymous
    As much as I aprreciate the efforts of the people involved in making the course, unfortunately I found it’s content extremely light on information. In my opinion, this course barely scratched the surface of the topic of nutrition and cancer. Of 5…
  • I have benefited a lot from this course, and I hope to complete all the courses of your distinguished university.
    Many thanks to all the course workers and the university in general.
  • Anonymous
    I just finished Nutrition, diabetes and heart disease as part of the Nutrition and Disease Professional certificate. I found that course to be more specific and detailed with much useful information and tips to practically apply. The lack of resear…
  • Anonymous
    This course is very informative with the latest updates related to Nutrition and cancer and is a good learning experience as an online course. The lectures through videos with the script on the side is very useful in understanding the concepts expl…
  • Anonymous
    I am located in the United States am currently enrolled in the Nutrition and Cancer course. I was particularly excited to enroll in this course so as to get an European view of Nutrition and Cancer. The course overall has been very informative and p…
  • Anonymous
    Good information and great presenters. It was interesting to learn more about what part nutrition play in the role of cancer. Even though there is not a lot of scientific information on nutrition and cancer I can see the cause and effect of it on someone who has cancer. If the diet is poor the health is poor. It gave me more insight on how to look at nutrition and exercise in regards to cancer.
  • Karen Amedu
    it was good the things i learnt werent much but most of the stuff were interesting to learn , i learnt some things about cancer whch was iinteresting.
  • Anonymous
    thank you for your initiative in creating this course and the thought behind it

    unfortunately with most of your data pointing to inconclusive and insufficient proof, I am leaving the course even more confused and worried than i was when i started it.

    I am now doubting the intensity of workout and quality of " clean" maybe not so clean foods and became terrified of supplements

  • Anonymous
    The Nutrition and Cancer course was incredibly informative. It covered the complex relationship between nutrition and cancer in a structured and evidence-based manner. The instructors were engaging, and the practical applications were valuable. This course provides essential knowledge for anyone interested in cancer prevention and management through dietary choices. Highly recommended!
  • Anonymous
    I love this course because it provides the real story happens on the front line of cancer treatment regarding nutritional support. I know now how much has been achieved and how much more we still need to keep up with in order to help more cancer patients in this world. I found the interview with the frontline doctors/nutritional specialist especially meaningful.
  • Anonymous
    Good course. Personally I would have expected a bit more in-depth information and theory. The interview about loss/change of taste and smell was very helpful to me. I am working in a hospital and am sometimes dealing with patients who are on chemotherapy. I now better understand why they often have problems with eating.
  • Anonymous
    I appreciate all the helpful and interesting information taught in this course. Learning official guidelines from world organizations has been enlightening. I look forward to feeling equipped and joining the community of people working to make a di…
  • Anonymous
    This course is good but it should have a more information about what's to do with patients to give them a good advice about what they sohled eat , I want to know many examples about this and also this course does not have a practical part.
  • Profile image for Taha Benfdil
    Taha Benfdil
    The five modules offered so far have been exceptionally informative and pedagogically effective, surpassing my initial expectations. The presentation of information makes the complex subject of nutrition and oncology accessible to individuals with a…
  • Anonymous
    I recently completed the Nutrition and Cancer course and found it to be extremely helpful. The course covered a wide range of topics related to nutrition and its impact on cancer prevention and treatment. The instructors were knowledgeable and provided valuable insights into the latest research in this field. The course also included practical tips on how to incorporate healthy eating habits into daily life. Overall, I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in learning more about the role of nutrition in cancer prevention and treatment. It was a great learning experience and I feel more empowered to make informed choices about my own health.

Never Stop Learning.

Get personalized course recommendations, track subjects and courses with reminders, and more.

Someone learning on their laptop while sitting on the floor.