Pearl Oncology Specialist Hospital, a multidisciplinary cancer centre in Lagos, has officially initiated the “Meals That Heal” Clinic.
This dedicated nutrition clinic is focused on promoting healthy eating habits to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and support overall well-being and healing.
The initiative also promotes cancer prevention and addresses a critical yet often overlooked component of cancer care.
The Meals That Heal Clinic offers expert-led dietary interventions tailored to each patient’s cancer diagnosis, treatment phase, side effects, and nutritional needs.
It also provides proactive guidance to individuals seeking to reduce their cancer risk through food and lifestyle changes.
The clinic is led by a registered dietitian who collaborates with a larger team of cancer specialists.
Omolola Salako, consultant clinical oncologist and founder of Pearl Oncology, emphasizing the clinic’s unique focus said: “When we talk about cancer care, the focus is usually on chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy and rightly so. But what often gets less attention is nutrition, even though it’s just as critical”.
She added that “The food we eat influences our immunity, gut health, and energy levels. For people undergoing treatment or looking to prevent disease, what happens at the dining table can be just as powerful as what happens in the clinic.”
She further explained that healing goes beyond medicine. Good nutrition, she said, can be a lifeline, helping patients maintain their strength, manage treatment side effects, and recover more quickly.
About 40 percent of cancers are preventable, and your diet is one of the critical pillars to reducing your cancer risk, she said.
Offering both in-person and virtual consultations from its base in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, patients receive access to registered dietitians, personalized nutrition plans, and ongoing support to improve their quality of life.
With nearly 80,000 cancer-related deaths in Nigeria annually, and a growing body of evidence linking diet and lifestyle to cancer outcomes, the Clinic’s launch is both timely and necessary.
Charles Oguikpe, specialist dietitian at Pearl Oncology, further emphasised the importance of dietary support during treatment.
“Cancer demands a lot from the body. Treatments like chemotherapy and radiation come with side effects that often make eating difficult,” he explained. “Our role is to design practical and nourishing nutrition plans that meet each patient’s unique needs, support their immunity, and aid recovery. We encourage a mix of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, plant-based foods, and the reduction of highly processed or high-calorie meals.”
The Meals That Heal Clinic adopts a collaborative, whole-patient philosophy. Dietitians work closely with oncologists, nurses, and care teams to ensure nutritional plans are seamlessly integrated into each patient’s overall treatment protocol.
As Nigeria continues to battle rising cancer rates, Pearl Oncology’s Meals That Heal Clinic offers hope and a practical solution through the power of food.
