Research Study Shows 73% of Cancer Patients Prefer In-Home Care

ROCHESTER, Minnesota—The Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center released findings from a study done within its Cancer Care Beyond Walls program that found a majority of cancer patients prefer in-home care over clinical care. 

Researchers funded by the Mayo Clinic surveyed 200 adult patients receiving chemotherapy or hormonal therapy for cancer at Mayo Clinic Florida. Patients were randomly selected to receive either 24 weeks of in-home care or in-clinic care followed by 16 weeks of home-based care. 

After eight weeks, 26 patients from each group were enrolled in the trial and 36 had started treatment. Among patients, 38% had breast cancer, 21% had colorectal cancer, 19% had prostate cancer and 14% had multiple myeloma. Female patients made up 64% of the sample; 84% of patients identified as white, 14% as Black and 2% as multiple races.

Patients scored both in-home and in-clinic cancer care highly, but 73% preferred home-based care, 18% had no preference and 9% preferred in-clinic care.

Researchers presented their latest oncology findings at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago. The event, recognized as one of the largest gatherings in the field of cancer research, featured 59 Mayo Clinic-authored abstracts highlighting advancements in cancer care.