Food insecurity is a critical issue affecting individuals fighting cancer. This pervasive problem exacerbates malnutrition in cancer patients, highlighting the urgent need for support and solutions.
Up to 85% of people with cancer experience malnutrition, and malnutrition accounts for 10% to 50% of mortality in people with cancer. Malnutrition also increases the risk of toxicity from anticancer therapy and diminishes quality of life in people with cancer. Cancer treatments can make it hard for people to eat well and may affect taste, smell, one’s appetite, and one’s ability to eat enough food and absorb nutrients. In addition, food-drug interactions have a substantial impact on the effectiveness of anti-cancer treatment.
People who live in medically underserved areas and/or who have limited financial resources may experience food insecurity. Food insecurity, as defined by USDA, is the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods. The prevalence of food insecurity increases with chronic illness, including cancer, and individuals with cancer are more vulnerable to food insecurity due to factors such as decreased income, reduced employment opportunities, increased medical expenses, and limited social support. Poor nutrition is compounded in populations with low income that often lack access to nutrient-rich foods for a variety of reasons, including financial constraints, limited access to full-service grocery stores, lack of transportation, and lack of knowledge, time, and energy to prepare healthy foods.
A healthy diet and eating habits can help people with cancer maintain a healthy weight, preserve strength, and manage side effects of their treatment. A healthy diet for people undergoing cancer treatment includes nutrient-dense foods containing vitamins, minerals, protein, carbohydrates, fats, and water that the body requires. A focus on plant-based foods and regular exercise is beneficial. Additionally, nutrition education from a registered dietitian has been shown to help people with cancer live longer.
Addressing food insecurity in the cancer community requires a collaborative effort from various stakeholders including healthcare providers, policymakers, and community organizations. Identification of food insecurity amongst cancer patients can positively affect health outcomes and reduce health disparities amongst historically marginalized groups when paired with affective resources. Steps toward rectifying food insecurity and malnutrition include screening and identification, nutrition education and support, and connecting patients with appropriate resources.
MOQC Meal Delivery Update
As shared at the MOQC regional meetings, we are exploring a meal delivery pilot project for patients undergoing chemotherapy that are food insecure. Studies have shown that meal and grocery delivery programs can improve food security in vulnerable people who are medically underserved, food insecure, and at risk of malnutrition, poorer survival, and reduced quality of life. The purpose of this pilot would be to partner with a meal delivery service and provide meals to approximately 50 patients and caregivers. We would then evaluate how that meal delivery supports patients and their caregivers in the areas of food access and nutrition during chemotherapy treatment.
Thank you to those sites that have expressed interest in joining us for this pilot. We will be reaching out soon to work with you in identifying patients at your practice that might benefit from this service.
Resources
Please visit the MOQC Resources Search Engine for resources on food assistance and more. If your practice has additional resources you would like to see added, please contact us at moqc@moqc.org.
- National Cancer Institute: Nutrition in Cancer Care. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/appetite-loss/nutrition-hp-pdq.
- National Cancer Institute: Cancer Therapy Interactions With Foods and Dietary Supplements. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/hp/dietary-interactions-pdq.
- United States Department of Agriculture: Definitions of Food Security. https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-u-s/definitions-of-food-security/.
- Cancer.org. n.d. Improving Availability of Healthy Food Reduces Cancer Inequities. https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/report-social-determinants-must-be-addressed-to-advance-health-equity.html
- Bath, C. 2022, May. Assessing food insecurity among patients with cancer. ASCO Post. https://ascopost.com/issues/may-10-2022/assessing-food-insecurity-among-patients-with-cancer/
- Patel, K.G., Borno, H.T., Seligman, H.K., 2019. Food insecurity screening: A missing piece in cancer management. Cancer. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.32291