Food Insecurity Among People With Cancer: Nutritional Needs as an Essential Component of Care
Year: 2022
Type: article
Abstract: A cancer diagnosis can upend work and family life, leading patients to reallocate resources away from essentials such as food. Estimates of the percentage of people navigating a cancer diagnosis and food insecurity range between 17% and 55% of the cancer patient population. The complexity of addressing food insecurity among those diagnosed with cancer during different phases of treatment is multifactorial and often requires an extensive network of support throughout each phase. This commentary explores the issue of food insecurity in the context of cancer care, explores current mitigation efforts, and offers a call to action to create a path for food insecurity mitigation in the context of cancer. Three programs that address food insecurity among those with cancer at various stages of care are highlighted, drawing attention to current impact and actionable recommendations to make programs like these scalable and sustainable. Recommendations are grounded in the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine social care framework through 5 essential domain areas: awareness, adjustment, assistance, alignment, and advocacy. This commentary seeks to highlight opportunities for the optimization of cancer care and reframe food access as an essential part of treatment and long-term care plans.
DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djac135
Institutions: Agricultural Research Service, Baylor College of Medicine, Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Cancer Center, Patient Advocate Foundation, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, University of Southern California, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Chicago, Yale University, University of California, San Francisco
Language: English
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: American Association for Cancer Research, American Cancer Society, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American College of Radiology, Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute on Aging, National Cancer Institute, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
OpenAlex ID: W4296580774