Nutrition Support for Survivors

Good nutrition and healthy eating habits are important parts of cancer treatment. However, some patients may find meeting their nutrition needs challenging. Nutrition-related symptoms may lead to loss of appetite, weight loss, a need for a modified diet texture, dietary restrictions, or specialized feeding approaches.

At Fox Chase Cancer Center, you don’t have to manage this complex challenge by yourself. Our team of Registered Dietitians offers counseling, education, meal planning and more, including:

  • Pre-treatment nutrition advice and monitoring
  • Inpatient and outpatient nutrition evaluations, counseling, and recommendations
  • Support through treatment related side effects including appetite loss and weight loss
  • Specialized nutrition assessment and evaluation for feeding tubes (enteral feeding) or intravenous (parenteral feeding)
  • Outpatient counseling for nutrition concerns and questions
  • Nutrition counseling for survivors

We offer free individualized nutrition counseling by telemedicine appointment for patients newly diagnosed with cancer and actively undergoing treatment, as well as throughout surveillance and survivorship. Our focus includes healthy eating, lifestyle modifications, weight management, and the role of vitamin/mineral supplementation to optimize health, reduce risk of cancer (new or recurrent), improve energy, and achieve and/or maintain a healthy body weight.

When Should You See a Registered Dietitian?

You should schedule an appointment with a Registered Dietitian at Fox Chase Cancer Center if the following is true:

  • You are a patient at Fox Chase
  • You are interested in learning more about nutrition, meal planning, and making food choices that are best for you
  • You have lost weight unintentionally
  • You have experienced any Nutrition Impact Symptoms while undergoing cancer treatment, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, changes in taste, mucositis, thrush, difficulty chewing and/or swallowing, or constipation
  • You are a survivor looking to lose weight, learn about healthy eating habits, or make changes to improve your overall nutrition

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I meet with a Registered Dietitian (RD)?

Nutrition plays a big role in a healthy lifestyle during and after cancer treatment, as well as throughout survivorship.

A Registered Dietitian can provide individualized counseling based on the most recent evidence-based research to help reach your nutrition goals and optimize your health.

Meeting with an RD is beneficial if you are experiencing reduced appetite, nausea, weight loss or nutrition-related symptoms related to treatment; or if you are looking to make healthier food and lifestyle choices, lose weight, or improve diet tolerance.

What can I expect during my appointment with a Registered Dietitian?

You will receive a telephone call from one of our Registered Dietitians at your scheduled appointment time. We will ask a few questions about your appetite, typical eating patterns, diet tolerance and weight history, as well as any additional oral nutrition supplements or vitamin/mineral/herbal supplementation used regularly.  

The RD will offer individualized nutrition counseling as indicated based on the information provided, as well as address any additional questions/concerns you might have.

Follow-up appointments are available for all patients in need of continued nutrition care.

Will I be charged, or do I need insurance to schedule an appointment?

No, our nutrition services are free and available to all Fox Chase patients.

How can I schedule a one-on-one nutrition counseling appointment?

Please call Fox Chase Central Scheduling at 215-728-2600 to schedule your telemedicine nutrition visit.

Learn More

To learn more about the role nutrition plays in oncology, please visit the following resources:

Recipe Suggestions for Survivors:

If you have additional questions about Fox Chase nutrition services for cancer survivors, talk to your doctor or Advanced Practice Clinician, or call 888-369-2427.

Meet Our Team

  • Kara Stromberg, MS, RD, CDE, LDN

    Clinical Nutrition Manager 
    Kara is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator. After earning her bachelor’s degree in Dietetics at the University of Delaware, she completed her master’s in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetic Internship at New York University. Kara’s passion lies in growing the role of the Registered Dietitian while ensuring that everyone has access to the nutrition services they need. She oversees all inpatient and ambulatory nutrition areas, as well as nutrition-related research efforts and quality improvement programming. 

  • Jacquelyn Costa, MA, RD, LDN

    Outpatient Oncology Dietitian
    Jacquelyn provides individualized nutrition counseling for patients newly diagnosed with cancer, currently undergoing treatment, during active surveillance after treatment, and throughout survivorship. Since joining the Fox Chase nutrition team in 2022, she has had a particular interest in counseling patients on managing their nutrition during chemotherapy and radiation treatment, as well as optimizing their health and promoting general healthy eating as part of their lifestyle after treatment. Jacquelyn completed her dietetic internship and earned a Master of Arts in Nutrition Education from Immaculata University, as well as earning a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from La Salle University. She is studying to become a Board Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition.
     

  • Karen Vincek, RD, LDN

    Inpatient BMT & Outpatient Oncology Dietitian
    Karen has been part of Fox Chase Cancer Center since 2016. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Dietetics at West Chester University and her Dietetic Internship with Sodexo. She is working toward a Master’s in Public Health degree from Temple University. At Fox Chase, Karen has had the privilege of working very closely with individuals touched by cancer. In the outpatient setting, she provides tailored nutrition counseling to patients before, during and after cancer treatment. She also regularly holds patient and community educational seminars and presentations.

  • Casandra Stidham, MS, RD, CSR, LDN, CCTD

    Oncology Dietitian 
    As a Registered Dietitian, Casandra works with people with cancer in the inpatient setting. She has a particular interest in helping patients navigate nutrition during treatment for head and neck cancers. Casandra completed a Master of Science in Health Management at Northern Kentucky University and a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics at the University of Kentucky. Casandra is a Board Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition and a Certified Clinical Transplant Dietitian.

  • Jaylin Kellogg, MS, RD, LDN, CNSC

    Nutrition Support Dietitian
    Jaylin cares primarily for patients who are receiving enteral or parenteral nutrition in the inpatient setting. She has a special interest in ethical feeding practices, particularly the safety and appropriate use of parenteral nutrition. She obtained a Master of Science in Nutrition from Case Western Reserve University and a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences from The Pennsylvania State University. She also is a Certified Nutrition Support Clinician through the National Board of Nutrition Support Certification.

  • Martha Killian, MS, RD, LDN

    Oncology Dietitian 
    Since 2004, Martha has been a Registered Dietitian at Fox Chase, where she shares more than 30 years of clinical experience. Martha has a particular interest in the nutritional management of surgical oncology patients and GI cancers. She has a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Penn State University and a Master of Science in Health Education from St. Joseph’s University. Martha provides inpatient nutrition care from admission to discharge, specializing in Nutrition Support therapies.