Shelby Yaceczko/LinkedIn
Shelby Yaceczko: Persistent Gaps in Oncology Nutrition Support
Shelby Yaceczko, Founder and CEO of F-U Cancer, shared a post byOncology Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group on LinkedIn, adding:
“Thank you to everyone involved in this project! You are so appreciated for highlighting the critical need for nutrition oncology support in the care continuum
A new 2026 study in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics highlights a persistent gap in cancer care: patients want nutrition support, but many still aren’t receiving it when they need it most
Researchers surveyed 1,427 U.S. cancer survivors about their experiences with nutrition care following diagnosis. The findings are important:
- Only 53.6% reported receiving any nutrition care.
- Just 39.3% had received care from a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).
- 13.4% reported an unmet need for nutrition support.
Demand for nutrition care was highest during treatment and after treatment.
Unmet needs were more common among younger survivors, women, individuals experiencing food insecurity, those without caregiver support, and patients with greater symptom burden
Perhaps most importantly, the nutrition needs didn’t disappear when treatment ended. Survivors reported needs related to energy, emotional health, weight management, cancer-related worry, and symptom management
The takeaway
Nutrition cannot be treated as an optional add-on to cancer care.
We need better systems for early screening, referral to oncology RDNs, ongoing nutrition education, and accessible support across the entire cancer continuum, from diagnosis through treatment and survivorship
This is exactly the type of gap we are working to address at F-U Cancer through the RiseStrong Platform: making evidence-based supportive care more accessible and extending support beyond the walls of the clinic. Nutrition is supportive cancer care and access matters.”
Quoting Oncology Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group:
“We are excited to share this important new study highlightinga significant gap in cancer care. Many cancer survivors still lack access to specialized nutrition support from RDNs
The findings from this study reinforce the need to integrate nutrition screening, timely referrals, and RDNs more systematically into oncology care to better support patients during and after treatment
Congratulations to our ON DPG members who contributed to this paper and to advancing the field of oncology nutrition!”
Title: Nutrition Services in Oncology: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Patient Experiences, Needs, and Gaps in Care
Authors: Bailey M Foster, Melissa F Miller, Colleen K Spees, Cynthia A Thomson, Elaine B Trujillo, Erica E Fortune, Lauren Fay, Peter A Adintori, Renee Stubbins, Jill M Hamilton-Reeves
Read the full article
You can also read: Nutrition in Cancer Care: Closing the Gap Between Awareness and Action – CancerWorld
- Voices
Bailey M FostercancerColleen K. SpeesCynthia A. ThomsonElaine B TrujilloErica E FortuneJill M Hamilton-ReevesLauren FayMelissa F MillernutritionOncoDailyOncologyPeter A. AdintoriRenee StubbinsShelby Yaceczko
