Lyon Auvergne Rhône-Alpes: Your Comprehensive Guide to Opportunities and Events

Cancéropôle Lyon is organizing a round table titled “Dis-moi ce que tu manges, je te dirai qui tu crois être” to examine the relationship between nutrition, personal belief systems, and patient identity during cancer treatment. Coordinated by the CLARA network, the event focuses on how dietary choices reflect a patient’s self-perception and their beliefs about the disease.

The event is listed as part of the programming for the Coordination Lyon Auvergne Rhône-Alpes (CLARA), which manages the events and networking for the Cancéropôle Lyon hub. The round table’s title, a play on the proverb “Tell me what you eat, and I’ll tell you who you are,” signals a sociological and clinical approach to oncology nutrition.

What is the purpose of the “Dis-moi ce que tu manges” round table?

The discussion aims to analyze the intersection of medical nutrition and the identity of the patient. According to the event’s framing by Cancéropôle Lyon, the focus extends beyond the biological requirements of cancer care to the psychological and social drivers of food choice.

Nutrition in oncology often involves a tension between clinical prescriptions and the patient’s own beliefs. Some patients adopt restrictive diets based on the belief that certain foods can “starve” cancer or accelerate recovery. This round table explores how these dietary habits are tied to the patient’s sense of agency and their identity as a “fighter” or a “healer” of their own body.

By examining these behaviors, the organizers seek to better understand how healthcare providers can communicate nutritional needs without dismissing the personal and cultural identities tied to eating habits.

Who is coordinating the event?

The event is coordinated by CLARA, the administrative and organizational arm of the Cancéropôle Lyon network. CLARA is responsible for managing calls for projects, organizing network-wide events, and providing documentation and tools for the various stakeholders within the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes cancer cluster.

Cancéropôle Lyon itself serves as a centralized hub that brings together researchers, clinicians, and patient advocates. The organization’s goal is to streamline the transition from laboratory research to bedside clinical application, ensuring that patients in the Lyon region have access to integrated care.

The coordination by CLARA ensures that the round table is accessible to a broad spectrum of the network, including medical professionals and academic researchers specializing in oncology and nutrition.

How does nutrition intersect with cancer care in Lyon?

In the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region, the approach to cancer care emphasizes a multidisciplinary model. Nutrition is treated not merely as a supportive measure to prevent weight loss or malnutrition, but as a component of the patient’s overall psychological well-being.

The “nutrition-identity” link is a recognized challenge in oncology. When a diagnosis forces a change in diet, it can strip a patient of their usual social rituals and cultural markers. This transition can lead to a loss of identity or the adoption of new, sometimes unverified, dietary regimes to regain a sense of control.

The round table’s objective is to address these dynamics. By discussing “who you think you are” through the lens of food, the Cancéropôle Lyon network aims to improve the psychosocial support offered to patients throughout their treatment trajectory.

This approach aligns with the broader mission of the regional cancer cluster to treat the patient as a whole person rather than focusing solely on the tumor. It recognizes that the beliefs a patient holds about their diet are often inseparable from their emotional response to the disease.