ELEVATE YOUR NUTRITION PRACTICE
Systems Approach to Breast Cancer® Advanced Practice Module for Nutrition Professionals
Learn how to confidently and competently use nutrition and lifestyle strategies to help clients with breast cancer live well.
Nutrition professionals belong in breast cancer care teams.
Breast cancer is a frightening diagnosis. People often feel like they have lost control of their bodies and minds, as they endure months of gruelling treatments that leave them feeling depleted on all levels.
BUT THERE IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WITH CANCER CAN CONTROL — THEIR NUTRITION AND LIFESTYLE.
As someone well-versed in nutrition, you know that food is absolutely vital for health and wellbeing. Establishing a good nutrition plan is even more important for people diagnosed with cancer. Unfortunately, there are not enough qualified, well-informed practitioners delivering nutritional therapy to people with cancer or those recovering from cancer treatment.
Have you found yourself in one of these situations?
You decline to take breast cancer cases in your practice because you feel like you don’t have enough specific knowledge in this area.
You feel frustrated because you don’t have a clear assessment and management path for people with a cancer diagnosis.
You waste hours on a nutrition plan for cancer cases only to wonder if it is going to be truly effective.
You’ve tried to create a support plan for a person with cancer only to be questioned about your credentials or knowledge by other professionals.
CANCER NUTRITION PROFESSIONALS LIKE YOU BENEFIT FROM:
A science-based, integrative, Systems Approach to Cancer® that can help you create plans with clinical impact
A network of dedicated professionals to collaborate with
Clear and practical guidance on assessment, testing and management strategies, covering nutrition, lifestyle and supplementation
Systems Approach to Breast Cancer® Advanced Practice Module for Nutrition Professionals
A POSTGRADUATE, BANT-APPROVED COURSE
Advanced strategies for supporting your clients before, during, and after breast cancer treatment safely and effectively using a whole-person systems approach
By the end of this course you will:
Understand basic pathophysiology and hallmarks of cancer and their relevance to conventional and integrative cancer care.
Have evidence-based knowledge of nutrition and lifestyle strategies shown to reduce risk of cancer and to support better clinical outcomes in people diagnosed with cancer.
Know the special considerations to keep in mind when working with clients with metastatic cancer and clients participating in clinical trials.
Increase the number of ways you can support your clients through their treatment, working to reduce side effects and optimise resilience.
Have a framework for developing personalised Systems Approach to Cancer® nutrition and lifestyle plans to use before, during, and after treatment.
Begin building a network of integrative healthcare professionals who can help you grow your practice and provide your clients with a range of care options.
“I loved the course and learned so much from it that I could apply straight away.”
“And my learning was far greater than just for Breast Cancer patients too, so I can incorporate your approaches with every client now”
– R, REGISTERED NUTRITIONIST
Systems Approach to Breast Cancer® Advanced Practice Module for Nutrition Professionals
PROGRAMME MODULES
MODULE ONE
BREAST CANCER PREVENTION, SCREENING, DIAGNOSIS AND MEDICAL TREATMENT
Nutrition and lifestyle in breast cancer prevention
Breast cancer screening and diagnosis, including new options for risk assessment
Genetic syndromes in breast cancer, testing, screening and management
Understanding types of breast cancer (including ER+, HER2+ and TNBC) and their different pathophysiology and medical management
Advances in breast cancer treatment and the future of supportive care with Dr Penny Kechagioglou, Consultant Clinical Oncologist - prerecorded lecture
Surgical and reconstructive options in breast cancer treatment, surgical complications and their management with Miss Tasha Gandamihardja, Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon - prerecorded lecture
Lymphoedema with Mary Woods - prerecorded lecture
Assessment and management of recurrent and metastatic breast cancer
Precision oncology – current technologies and future prospects
Introduction to integrative oncology and management of common side effects of breast cancer treatment
Introduction to nutritional genomics and breast cancer
MODULE TWO
SYSTEMS APPROACH TO BREAST CANCER PART 1
Assessing, testing and managing the contribution of the following system nodes in breast cancer:
Mental/emotional/spiritual health and biorhythms – including key aspects of psycho-oncology and integrative working, HPA axis, circadian rhythm and sleep support
Microbiomes (GI and breast) and GI function, including microbiome contributions to hormonal milieu and immune function
Immune function – managing inflammation and supporting specific immunity, including new approaches
Effective detoxification – assessing and addressing environmental exposures, understanding the importance of hepatic metabolism and other routes of elimination, e.g. renal, with appropriate testing and support
Circulation and tissue architecture (including invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis) – understanding key molecular pathways, medications and adjunctive care options
Mitochondrial and metabolic health – understanding key pathways, impact of medical history and treatment and adjunctive care options
MODULE THREE
SYSTEMS APPROACH TO BREAST CANCER PART 2
Assessing, testing and managing the contribution of the following system nodes in breast cancer:
Hormonal environment – understanding production, transport, hormone receptors and hormone metabolism and implications in breast cancer, including hormone-related risk factors
Balanced methylation and genomic stability – understanding key pathways involved in genomic stability and epigenetics, role of nutrition in epigenetic modulation
Pulling the Systems Approach Assessment together – using the model for effective case management and dynamic reassessment before, during and after treatment; prioritising and sequencing supportive regimes and case studies
Patient voices – hearing experiences of treatment and survivorship, as well as living with metastatic cancer
Integrative care teams – understanding individual contributions of NHS MDTs and broad integrative support options, how to refer safely and appropriately and guidelines for good interdisciplinary communication
Join a growing group of nutrition professionals providing specialised care for people with breast cancer.
PAYMENT PLAN
3 months unlimited access
to training modules
Monthly 90-minute Q&A session
with Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel
Access to private Facebook group
30 hours of CPD
Inclusion in public BANT Directory as a nutritional therapist who specialises in cancer support (upon successful completion and following BANT guidelines)
ONE PAYMENT
3 months unlimited access
to training modules
Monthly 90-minute Q&A session
with Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel
Access to private Facebook group
30 hours of CPD
Inclusion in public BANT Directory as a nutritional therapist who specialises in cancer support (upon successful completion and following BANT guidelines)
Please note that prices are subject to change in 2027. Only one cohort of this course runs per year.
EARN 30 HOURS OF BANT-APPROVED CPD
FOLLOW A WELL-ESTABLISHED FRAMEWORK
EXPAND YOUR PROFESSIONAL NETWORK
STUDY AT YOUR OWN PACE OVER 3 MONTHS
Hi, I’m Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel
Through this course, uniquely designed for nutrition professionals, you will learn the specific strategies and treatments I’ve used in my own clinical practice over the past 10+ years to help people with cancer live well.
About me
Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel is an award-winning, UK-based integrative medicine physician, scientist, educator, and healthcare leader, specialising in integrative oncology, precision cancer medicine, and women’s health. She is the Founder, Medical Director and Head of Integrative Cancer Care at Synthesis Clinic, and the Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Integrative Oncology (NCIO).
Trained at the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford, Dr Fuller-Shavel combines a strong foundation in conventional medicine with advanced expertise in precision cancer medicine, functional and lifestyle medicine, nutrition, psycho-emotional wellbeing, and evidence-informed complementary therapies. She holds an MSc in Precision Cancer Medicine and a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Research from Oxford, alongside extensive postgraduate training in integrative medicine, nutrition, acupuncture, herbal medicine, health coaching, and mind–body therapies.
Dr Fuller-Shavel has over a decade of clinical experience supporting people living with and beyond cancer. Her work focuses on improving quality of life, reducing treatment side effects, supporting resilience, and optimising outcomes alongside standard oncology care, not instead of it. She is known for developing a systems-based, whole-person approach to cancer care, integrating biological, psychological, lifestyle, and social factors into highly personalised treatment plans.
In addition to her clinical leadership at Synthesis Clinic, Dr Fuller-Shavel is a recognised national and international leader in integrative oncology. She is a Fellow of the College of Medicine, the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT), and the Royal Society of Arts, and serves as Chair/Co-Chair of the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) Global Committee. She has also held senior leadership roles within the British Society for Integrative Oncology and contributes to international guideline development, including joint SIO–ASCO clinical guidelines.
Dr Fuller-Shavel is an active researcher and author, with peer-reviewed publications in integrative oncology, immuno-oncology support, psycho-oncology, and mistletoe therapy. She is an author and contributor to major academic texts, including Integrative Oncology in Breast Cancer Care (Springer Nature) and Comprehensive Integrative Oncology (Elsevier), and is a regular speaker at international conferences.
Alongside her academic and clinical work, Dr Fuller-Shavel is deeply committed to education, advocacy, and widening access to safe, evidence-informed integrative cancer care. Through NCIO and digital health initiatives such as the Oncio app, she works to address unmet supportive care needs for people affected by cancer across the UK.
Her work is underpinned by a strong commitment to scientific rigour, compassionate care, patient empowerment, and collaborative practice, bridging conventional oncology with integrative approaches to help people live as well as possible during and after cancer.
I hope you’ll join me.
What our students are saying*
*Survey results from 3 course cohorts (2021-2022)
of attendees who responded to the survey found the educational content of the course good, very good or excellent with 74% rating it excellent
100%
of respondents who responded to the survey found the course helpful for their clinical practice
100%
Who is eligible to enrol in this course?
You have a degree or diploma in dietetics, nutrition or nutritional therapy, ideally BSc Hons, to be able to read and evaluate research at the appropriate depth.
You must hold membership with the appropriate professional association, e.g. BDA, AfN, BANT, and carry professional insurance.
Prior attendance on a foundational nutrition for cancer course (for nutritional therapists), e.g. Systems Approach to Cancer or shorter courses, e.g. Penny Brohn or 3-day ION course (proof required on enrolment)
You’re ready to commit to 3-4 hours of lectures a month, a 90-minute Q&A session, and 6-12 hours of additional optional reading.
You have an open mind and a desire to learn about a wide variety of approaches in integrative cancer care and to collaborate with others effectively.
What you can expect from Systems Approach to Breast Cancer® Advanced Practice Module for Nutrition Professionals
1. GAIN PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS.
This system was developed from my own experience as the founder of an award-winning integrative medicine practice specialising in women’s health and cancer care – as well as extensive studies in a range of modalities from functional and integrative medicine to herbal medicine and yoga. It means the course offers extensive, practical information for your daily use in clinic.
This programme doesn’t just give you knowledge about conventional cancer treatment or general nutrition approaches. We also cultivate a paradigm shift necessary to support patients using a whole person, systems-based, personalised approach, getting far away from ‘vegan for all’ or ‘keto for all’.
2. GET THE CONFIDENCE YOU NEED TO SEE RESULTS QUICKLY.
During the 6-month programme, you’ll be provided with practical information, as well as some real-life case studies from Synthesis Clinic, a leading award-winning integrative medicine practice. I’ll guide you through the various approaches that are supported by evidence and effectiveness in clinical practice.
If you have any questions, you’ll have ample opportunities to get them answered. As a student in the programme, you’ll have access to live monthly Q&A sessions and a dedicated, private Facebook group where you can post questions and research. We also offer a mentorship programme following course completion to help get you started with your first integrative cancer support cases.
3. GAIN PROFESSIONAL SATISFACTION BY HELPING CLIENTS WHO NEED YOU THE MOST.
Nutrition plays a significant role in cancer care outcomes. The problem is that most people with a cancer diagnosis don’t know where to begin. And all the conflicting information online — as you may have experienced yourself — can be overwhelming.
By completing the Systems Approach to Cancer® Programme for Nutrition Professionals, you’ll be able to confidently create a clear plan of assessment and support for your clients with cancer.
Course overview
This 3-month online Advanced Practice Module is aimed at nutrition professionals who have already completed an additional foundational course in cancer support (Systems Approach to Cancer 6-month course or shorter courses).
This course aims to educate and support nutrition professionals those who are working with or are preparing to work with clients who have a breast cancer diagnosis. Please note that you must be qualified and insured to practice as a nutrition professional to undertake this Advanced Practice Module (dietitian, AfN nutritionist, BANT registered nutritionist and nutritional therapist)
COURSE ASSESSMENT:
MCQs and short answer questions following each module covering the breadth of the topic
Case study submission (short answer questions) in month 3 illustrating practical application of the Systems Approach to Cancer model in specific breast cancer cases
COURSE FACULTY:
Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel, Integrative Medicine doctor, BANT registered nutritional therapist, herbalist, TCM acupuncturist, yoga teacher, scientist and educator
Dr Penny Kechagioglou, Consultant Clinical Oncologist
Dr Lauren Watts, Senior Medical Oncology registrar
Miss Tasha Gandamihardja, Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon
Mary Woods MBE Lymphoedema specialist
COURSE DELIVERY:
Online self-paced modules released throughout the three months according to course timetable
Several pre-recorded lectures during the course
Monthly 90 min live Q&A with Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel - recorded for viewing post-event
SELF STUDY:
12 hours core material
1 x 90 min Q&A and approximately 8-12 hours of additional reading (3 x 8-hour days, split into self-paced chunks)
LIVE Q&A:
90 mins monthLy live Q&A (Fri) to discuss questions and cases
Recordings available for catch-up
THIS COURSE IS APPROVED BY BANT AND CARRIES 30 HOURS OF CPD.
Access to course recordings is granted for 1 year from course commencement.