WIC 347 - Cancer

A chronic disease whereby populations of cells have acquired the ability to multiply and spread without the usual biologic restraints. The current condition, or the treatment for the condition, must be severe enough to affect nutritionalstatus.

Presence of condition diagnosed, documented, or reported by a physician or someone working under a physician’s orders, or as self reported by applicant/participant/caregiver. See Clarification for more information about self-reporting a diagnosis.

* Some cancer treatments may contraindicate breastfeeding.

An individual’s nutritional status at the time of diagnosis of cancer is associated with the outcome of treatment. The type of cancer and stage of disease progression determines the type of medical treatment, and if indicated, nutrition management. Individuals with a diagnosis of cancer are at significant health risk and under specific circumstances may be at increased nutrition risk, depending upon the stage of disease progression or type of ongoing cancer treatment.

1. Institute of Medicine. WIC nutrition risk criteria a scientific assessment. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.; 1996.

Self-reporting of a diagnosis by a medical professional should not be confused with self-diagnosis, where a person simply claims to have or to have had a medical condition without any reference to professional diagnosis. A self-reported medical diagnosis (“My doctor says that I have/my son or daughter has…”) should prompt the CPA to validate the presence of the condition by asking more pointed questions related to that diagnosis.