Nourishing Hope: The Impact of Nutrition in Cancer Treatment and Recovery in Maine

Launched by YALE UNIVERSITY · Jul 10, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial, called "Nourishing Hope," is looking at how different nutrition support methods might help people with cancer in Maine during their treatment and recovery. The study will compare three groups over six months: one group will receive medically tailored grocery deliveries plus nutrition counseling, another will get grocery deliveries alone, and the last group will receive the usual care with grocery deliveries provided later. The main goal is to see how these approaches affect the quality of participants’ diets. The study will also look at other important aspects like hospital visits, nutrition problems, cancer symptoms, food security, quality of life, and financial stress related to cancer care.

People who are 18 or older, have been diagnosed with any type of cancer, and live in certain counties in Maine (Hancock, Penobscot, Washington, or Piscataquis) may be eligible to join. However, those who already see a dietitian regularly, have planned long-term hospital cancer treatment, receive nutrition through IV or feeding tubes, use large amounts of meal replacement drinks, recently received grocery deliveries from a specific foundation, or have difficulty understanding the study details will not be able to participate. If you join, you can expect to receive grocery deliveries tailored to your nutritional needs, possibly nutrition counseling, and be asked about your health and well-being over six months. The study hasn’t started recruiting yet, but it aims to find practical ways to support people with cancer through better nutrition.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 18 years of age or older
• • Ever been diagnosed with cancer
• • Reside Hancock, Penobscot, Washington or Piscataquis county in Maine for the next 6 months
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Seeing a dietitian regularly (at least once every two weeks)
• • Planned long-term inpatient cancer treatment
• • Receiving nutrition via IV also known as total parenteral nutrition
• • Getting nutrition through a feeding tube
• • Drinking more than 3 bottles of liquid meal replacements, such as Ensure, per day
• • Received grocery delivery or grocery (not produce only) pick-up from the Christine B. Foundation in the past 3 months.
• • Those with reduced mental capacity and unable to understand all the components of the study, including the details of randomization.