In clinical practice, oral nutrition always has taken priority. In
older cancer patients, oral nutrition is the preferred feeding
route because it is a significant part of the patient’s daily routine
and contributes substantially to the patients’ autonomy. It represents
a time to spend with family and friends, avoiding the
tendency for isolation frequently seen in these patients. When
the prescribed diet is individualized, adapted, and adequate to
individual needs the patient is empowered with a feeling of
control. Oral nutrition is also a highly effective approach of
psychological modulation. All of these factors may potentially
contribute to an improvement in patient quality of life, and may
modulate acute and late treatment morbidity. The referral for a
nutrition professional responsible for the individualized dietary
counseling should always be made on evidence-based decisionmaking
plans (Fig. 1).