WhidbeyHealth Cancer Clinic Kicks Off 2026 Survivorship Series With Nutrition Seminar

Erin Simms, WhidbeyHealth's registered dietitian, opened the Cancer Clinic's 2026 survivorship series on March 25 with a session on eating well after cancer treatment, walking attendees through ingredient labels, practical food choices, and nutritional strategies for managing side effects that often persist long after active therapy ends.

The seminar, titled "Nutrition After Cancer Treatment," was the first installment in WhidbeyHealth Medical Center's Cancer Clinic's 2026 Cancer Survivorship Seminar Series. The clinic organized the series to support Whidbey Island survivors and the caregivers alongside them.

Simms covered how common treatment aftereffects, including fatigue, appetite changes, and gastrointestinal disruption, can be addressed through targeted dietary choices. Rather than prescribing a single eating plan, the session emphasized realistic, sustainable approaches tailored to the specific treatments each patient received. Attendees were encouraged to follow up with clinic staff for personalized guidance.

The audience for sessions like this typically includes not only survivors but also family members, caregivers, and health-care providers seeking evidence-based survivorship care. That breadth reflects the wider scope of survivorship programming, which extends well beyond the clinical finish line of treatment to address nutrition, exercise, mental health, and ongoing symptom management.

For a community spread across an island, having that programming close to home carries real practical weight. Survivors who might otherwise travel off-island for follow-up care can access clinical expertise, peer connection, and dietary counseling without leaving the county.

The March 25 session was listed through WhidbeyLocal, which carried event details and attendance information. The clinic's survivorship seminars have been hosted at WhidbeyHealth facilities and community venues, with hybrid and online options available depending on the session. Those who attended were encouraged to schedule individualized follow-up directly with Cancer Clinic staff.