My mother is going through cancer treatment, but she is having difficulty affording food. Where can she turn for assistance?

Gabrielle Winther, a clinical social worker and helpline lead community navigator at Cancer Support Community

Studies suggest up to 55% of people with cancer experience food insecurity, which is when a person cannot afford enough food to provide adequate nutrition for themselves and their family members. Sometimes it means having to choose between paying the bills and buying food to eat. Oftentimes food insecurity stems from an inability to work while receiving cancer treatment.

When someone is diagnosed with cancer, most cancer centers will screen to see if they have financial distress. A social worker at your mother’s cancer clinic ideally should have talked with her about any concerns over access to healthy food right at the beginning of treatment. But sometimes circumstances change after treatment starts. For instance, your mother may have been able to work and receive a paycheck at the time of her diagnosis but had to stop at some point during treatment. Patients or their families often feel embarrassed that this is an issue. Your mother may find it hard to ask for help.

Ask your mother’s care team if an oncology social worker at the hospital can help connect the two of you with government programs and local resources. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a government program that offers individuals funds to buy food if their household income is below a certain threshold, which varies by state. While SNAP can be helpful, your mother may make too much to qualify for government assistance. Community-based food pantries, churches or other local organizations often offer nutritious food with fewer restrictions.

Many nonprofits also offer help navigating food resources. For example, at Cancer Support Community, we help people identify food banks and other food assistance programs in their geographic area via our helpline (888-793-9355). Other organizations provide financial assistance programs that help pay a month’s mortgage or a utility bill, which can free up money to put toward groceries.

Don’t hesitate to ask for help. This is a hard journey, but resources are available to help lighten your load.

FOOD INSECURITY // FindHelp.org lists food pantries and other assistance programs based on your ZIP code. // Feeding America operates a national network of food banks and pantries that help people facing food insecurity.

The expert’s response was edited for clarity and based on an interview with Kendall K. Morgan.