Background 

Individuals with advanced bladder cancer who require chemotherapy and bladder removal surgery are at high risk for nutritional problems, including malnutrition and muscle loss. These issues can negatively affect quality of life, treatment effectiveness, and survival. Although nutritional supplementation, exercise, and psychological counseling can help prepare patients for treatment and surgery, patients may struggle to adhere to intensive exercise regimens and daily supplements. Medically tailored meals (MTMs), personalized to patients’ nutritional needs by a registered dietitian, may offer a more practical approach to supporting nutrition during treatment. 

What the Study Will Address 

This study will assess the feasibility and patient acceptance of providing two medically tailored meals daily for six months to 30 patients with advanced bladder cancer undergoing chemotherapy and bladder removal surgery. Beginning before chemotherapy and continuing until three months after surgery, participants will also meet monthly with a dietitian. Researchers will assess malnutrition, muscle mass, dietary patterns, and quality of life at baseline, three months, and six months, with additional screenings at six and twelve months after surgery. Findings will inform the design of a larger trial comparing patients who receive the intervention with those who do not.