LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — For many families, a cancer diagnosis brings more than medical appointments and treatment decisions. It can also make it harder to afford and access healthy food.
At the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, a program aimed at easing that burden is providing fresh produce to oncology patients who are at risk of food insecurity, while also examining how nutrition may support patients’ overall well-being.
Dr. Michael Thomsen, director of the UAMS Center for the Study of Obesity, said the Hope for Cancer Produce Prescription Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is part of a broader effort happening in communities across the country. Thomsen said UAMS’ program is focused on cancer patients.
Each week, the program packs about 50 bags of fresh produce that are distributed through the patient support pavilion at UAMS. When patients come in for treatment, they can leave with a bag of fruits and vegetables.
Thomsen said the program reaches patients statewide, with bags going to nearly every county in Arkansas. He said many patients may not have access to healthy food in their neighborhoods, and the goal is to help them go home with “something wholesome that they can plan a healthy meal around.”
Patients qualify through a referral process at UAMS. Thomsen said eligible participants are oncology patients who are at risk of food insecurity and receive a referral from a licensed health care professional at UAMS. The oncology social work team then screens patients to determine eligibility, which is based on income, and provides the produce prescriptions when patients come into the clinic.
Thomsen said nutrition matters during cancer treatment for multiple reasons, including the financial strain many families face. He described cancer as “a financially toxic diagnosis,” noting that treatment can be expensive, some patients may not be able to work as they did before, and healthy food can be costly.
The bags include a mix of fruits and vegetables, with an effort to provide different colors and some locally sourced items when available. Thomsen highlighted examples such as okra and cucumbers, along with other items including grapes, tomatoes, sweet potatoes and corn. He said the program also includes recipes, along with safe handling instructions, to help patients use the produce at home.
For those who think they or a loved one could benefit, Thomsen said the program is currently focused on UAMS patients. UAMS oncology patients who are struggling with food insecurity can visit the patient support pavilion on the first floor of the UAMS Cancer Institute, where the oncology social work team can help with a referral.
For more information on the HOPE for Cancer produce prescriptions program, click here.