Can Food Improve Cancer Care? New Data on Medically Tailored Meals

Quick take for physicians: Cancer patients frequently develop malnutrition that worsens tolerance to therapy and drives avoidable utilization.

New data in JCO Oncology Practice indicate that MTMs may improve nutritional status, support adherence, and reduce ED visits—making them a pragmatic lever for value-based oncology.

Why Nutrition Is Critical in Oncology

Unintentional weight loss and malnutrition are common during chemotherapy and radiation.
Poor nutrition increases infection risk, dose interruptions, and hospital use.
Yet consistent access to specialized meals remains limited for many patients.

What the 2023 JCO Oncology Practice Study Evaluated

A prospective evaluation in JCO Oncology Practice (2023) examined an oncology-focused MTM program providing approximately ten condition-specific meals weekly for three months to adults receiving chemotherapy.
Outcomes included nutrition markers, unplanned care, treatment continuity, and patient-reported quality of life.
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Key Findings

• Nutrition stability: Improved weight maintenance and serum nutrition markers compared with usual care.
• Unplanned care: Fewer ED visits and inpatient admissions during the intervention period.
• Treatment continuity: Higher on-time chemotherapy cycles with fewer dose delays attributable to nutrition-related issues.
• Patient experience: Better energy and function scores on patient-reported outcome instruments.
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Clinical and Operational Implications

• Adherence & tolerance: Protein-adequate, side-effect–conscious menus (e.g., for mucositis, dysgeusia) can reduce interruptions.
• Value-based oncology: Lower unplanned care and maintained treatment schedules strengthen performance under episode-based or advanced APM contracts.
• Equity: MTMs can address food insecurity and functional barriers that disproportionately affect outcomes.
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How to Integrate MTMs into Oncology Practice
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1) Screen early

Use PG-SGA or similar tools at treatment start to identify malnutrition risk or food insecurity.
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2) Prescribe oncology-tailored meals

Order ~10 meals per week for 8–12 weeks, tailored to treatment side effects and protein/energy needs. Include oral nutrition supplements if indicated.
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3) Pair with RD support

Schedule dietitian check-ins every 2–4 weeks (telehealth acceptable) to adjust plans and manage side effects.
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4) Track outcomes for payer reporting

Monitor unplanned care, treatment completion, and patient-reported outcomes.
Document value for payer discussions and quality programs.

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Fast onboarding • Oncology-specific menus • Outcome tracking
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FAQs

Which patients benefit most from oncology MTMs?

Those with moderate–high malnutrition risk, active chemotherapy/radiation, food insecurity, or functional barriers to meal preparation.
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How long should oncology MTMs run?

Commonly 8–12 weeks covering the most intensive treatment window, extendable based on risk and adherence.
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What outcomes should we monitor?

Weight stability, nutrition markers, ED/inpatient utilization, treatment delays, and patient-reported energy/function.