A cancer diagnosis brings a multitude of challenges to a patient’s life, including with food. Cancer treatment often causes significant physical, emotional, and financial difficulties for patients, which can directly affect their diet and nutrition.
The Joe Andruzzi Foundation (JAF) Programs Manager Kirstin Borczynski sat down to speak with Melissa Gilman, a registered dietitian with Sodexo at Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton, MA, to discuss what she encounters daily and share her insights with the JAF community. Melissa has been a dietitian for over 30 years across various specialties, with about 15 years in the oncology field. Melissa consults with oncology patients, including many who apply to JAF’s programs.
Like many others, Melissa unfortunately has her own personal connection to cancer. When friends and family asked how she could go into the oncology field and handle consulting with cancer patients, Melissa replied, “How could I not?”
The Struggles with Food During Cancer Treatment
While many cancer patients encounter food-related issues during treatment, nutritional challenges can vary greatly depending on the cancer type and treatment plan. Melissa shared, “For example, if they are getting radiation to the head and neck area, think about what area of the body is being treated. So, they might have taste changes, smell changes, or dry mouth because we have hit their salivary glands which makes it hard to eat. They might have trouble swallowing so then they have to change the texture of their foods. Sometimes they have to drink their nutrition, so then we’re working with nutritional supplements like smoothies or shakes.”
Cancer patients can also experience nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea which can lead to diet changes. Melissa has seen patients where food becomes unappealing entirely, with some patients describing all foods ‘tasting like awful’ and some having no taste at all. While many people often think of nausea as a side effect of cancer treatment, Melissa spoke about how “people don’t really realize how much your taste, dry mouth, and even smell can be affected in addition to other potential side-effects.”
It can be a constant challenge to find foods that are appealing, nutritious, and affordable. These factors can make it very difficult for patients to eat enough food when their bodies need it most. As Melissa said, “When you really don’t have an appetite or feel sick, it’s difficult to eat.”
Financial challenges can also be exacerbated by nutritional needs. Between losing income due to taking time off work as well as increased medical expenses, many cancer patients are facing situations where they need to decide whether they can pay for food or essential household bills like rent and electricity. In addition to having to purchase alternative foods as mentioned above, Melissa pointed out that the nutritional demands during treatment can require patients to purchase protein shakes or nutritional supplements in order to remain healthy that can be costly for some patients. When speaking about food security assistance, Melissa affirmed, “There is definitely a need.”
Melissa’s Advice for Patients
- Meet with a dietitian: “Not all places have a dietitian. Patients should definitely ask if there is a dietitian available. If there is no dietitian available there, they can definitely be referred to other places for outpatient nutrition. You can go outside your cancer center.”
- Make your shakes: “I do encourage people to make their own shakes to supplement their nutrition. Some supplement products are expensive. You can make your own at home with fruits, yogurt, protein powder, vegetables, even ice cream or syrups to add some flavor.”
- Ask for help: “It’s important for patients not to be afraid to ask for help. Patients should utilize the resources available to them. Hospital staff are there to help.”
- Cut costs where you can: “We want to make sure we’re encouraging good food, but affordability can be a problem too. I try to be mindful of that by encouraging patients to purchase store-brand items or look for sales.”
How JAF Helps:
JAF’s Food Security Program presented by Amplix provides grocery store gift cards, so patients are able to purchase the foods they need to stay healthy during treatment and keep food on the table for the whole family. As of last week, JAF has provided 5,788 Food Security grants totaling almost $1.3 million since inception just three years ago!
The goal of JAF’s assistance programs is to help cancer patients adhere to and finish treatment. To help us provide critical assistance to even more cancer patients across New England, please visit https://joeandruzzifoundation.org/ways-to-give/. Together, we can help ensure that patients do not need to choose between treatment, food, and housing.
Don’t just take our word for it. Hear about the impact of our Food Security Program directly from our patient recipients:
“I am truly grateful for the gift cards. I honestly didn’t know how we were going to be able to afford food this week and the gift cards could not have come in a better time.”
– 39-year-old sarcoma patient from New Hampshire
“It has been quite a struggle both emotionally and physically on a daily basis. I struggle with the type of food that I eat in order not to get sick. This gift card will enable me to purchase certain foods that I would otherwise not be able to afford. Knowing that I am not alone in this fight helps me see the light at the other end of the tunnel that I was losing.”
-68-year-old melanoma cancer patient in Massachusetts