Abby Coleman
RD, LD
Licensed in TX
Oncology Dietitian Nutritionist
A Clear Plan to Support Your Health Journey
A cancer diagnosis brings a whirlwind of emotions, uncertainty, and many questions — including those about your nutrition. Choosing what foods to eat can feel like a full-time job, so let us take one extra thing off your plate.
At Doherty Nutrition, our Registered Dietitian Nutritionists are here to walk alongside you, no matter where you are on this path. Whether you’re undergoing treatment, managing side effects, or working toward recovery, we’re ready to listen and support you every step of the way.
Our Oncology Registered Dietitian Nutritionists
Our compassionate team specializes in cancer care. We’re here for you and your family or caregivers, listening first so we can understand your unique needs, daily challenges, and hopes for the future.
Our cancer dietitian nutritionists know the power of small victories — finding meals your body tolerates well, a moment of feeling stronger, or seeing weight stabilize when you’ve been losing. Each step forward can make all the difference in treatment outcomes.
With understanding and clinical expertise, we offer judgment-free, fully personalized guidance so you can focus on what matters most — healing and hope.
Karlei Summerford
MS, RD, LD
Licensed in TX
Senior Dietitian
Our Registered Dietitian Approach to Cancer Nutrition Care
Oncology nutrition counseling isn’t just for active treatment. Whether you’re preparing for therapy, navigating the demands of chemo or radiation, or rebuilding your strength in survivorship, our oncology dietitians can make a meaningful difference at every stage of your cancer journey.
We work directly with your oncologist and care team to ensure your nutrition plan is seamless, supportive, and precisely tailored to your treatment goals.
Maintaining Strength and Energy During Treatment
During treatment, your body is working hard — repairing tissues, fighting infection, and adapting to therapy. These activities require extra energy and protein, and it can be hard to keep up. Struggling to do so puts the body into a catabolic state (breaking down tissue), which worsens treatment outcomes. Without adequate nutrition, your body may break down muscle for energy, leaving you weaker and making it harder to recover and fight illness. Proteins supply the amino acids your body uses to rebuild cells and create white blood cells for your immune system.
Doherty Nutrition helps by building practical, manageable eating plans that focus on getting enough calories and protein to prevent unintentional weight and muscle loss.
Managing Side Effects to Avoid Complications
While cancer treatment is essential to your recovery, these therapies can produce side effects that impact your appetite and overall nutrition. Nausea, mouth sores, and taste changes can interfere with the signals sent between your digestive tract and your brain, reducing hunger or making even your favorite foods unappealing.
Our dietitian nutritionists counteract this by creating plans just for you. We target foods and textures that are easier for your digestive system to process when those pathways are disrupted. Plus, we provide practical tips that explain why changes in temperature or acidity can help reset those signals during treatment.
The goal is to keep you nourished, comfortable, and on schedule with your therapeutic goals.
Supporting Survivorship and Future Wellness
Once treatment is done or you go into remission, Doherty Nutrition is there to celebrate with you. However, nutrition is still critical for survivors. Strategic eating habits can speed recovery, helping you regain energy and reducing the risk of recurring or new health problems.
Beyond calorie balance, certain phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables help reduce inflammation in the body, while healthy fats from nuts and fish promote cell membrane repair. High-fiber foods can support the digestive system and a balanced microbiome. That’s why choosing the right meals can play a role in long-term healing and supporting immune function after cancer treatment.
We’ll partner with you to build a pattern of eating and active living that works for your goals and lifestyle — whether you’re managing late side effects or building a strong foundation for future wellness.
What Does a Dietitian Do For a Cancer Patient?
Help meet their increased nutrition needs for healing
Ensure adequate protein and energy intake during treatment
Prevent unintentional weight loss
Manage side effects
Prevent poor nutritional status that can often lead to complications during treatment
Maintain good nutrition throughout the survivorship stage
Help them follow a healthy eating pattern and active lifestyle to prevent cancer recurrence in the future
Get Started With Our Oncology Nutrition Services
Find a source of comfort, partnership, and practical guidance — tailored just for you. Doherty Nutrition offers in-person oncology nutrition counseling at our locations in Texas and Illinois, as well as convenient telehealth services. We also accept most major insurance plans.
Get started with us today, and let’s take the next step forward in your cancer care.
Our Locations
We are excited to offer in person nutrition counseling across Texas and Illinois, with dietitian offices in:
Telehealth visits are available across several states. Our Registered Dietitian Nutritionists are highly trained, super friendly, and ready to help you reach your goals!
FAQs About Nutrition Counseling for Oncology
Most insurance plans will provide coverage for nutrition counseling as a preventative or medical service. We accept most major providers, so we invite you to verify your insurance benefits with us!
We offer in-person nutrition counseling for oncology at our North Dallas office, as well as telehealth services in 15 states, including Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Nutrition counseling can benefit you at every stage of your cancer journey, whether in preparation for treatment, during treatment to manage side effects, or after treatment to support your recovery.
Absolutely! As Registered Dietitian Nutritionists, we’re here to collaborate with your full medical team so you receive the support you need. With your permission, we can work with your oncologist to share recommendations and stay informed about your progress.
Yes! We can see minors who have been diagnosed with cancer.
To work with us, we invite you to complete our request counseling form to tell us more about you so we can match you with a dietitian. If you already know who you’d like to work with, you can book directly online.
Oncology Nutrition Resources
Oncology Articles
Note: This page is not meant to be a diagnosis tool.
