# US cancer survivorship care gaps

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-cancer-survivorship-care-gaps
> Updated: 2026-10-22T09:19:06.000Z. Sources: 2. Developments: 2.

In the United States, approximately 18.6 million people require specialized long-term survivorship care following cancer treatment. A significant communication gap exists between oncologists and primary care clinicians, which often forces patients to manage their own long-term health risks resulting from treatments like chemotherapy and radiation.

Subsequent research from UTHealth Houston highlights that these gaps are particularly acute for adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 39. While national standards advocate for comprehensive support—including psychological services, physical therapy, sexual health, and fertility services—current follow-up care often focuses narrowly on basic functional evaluations. Factors such as geographic mobility and changes in insurance coverage have been identified as contributors to these deficiencies in care.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-22: UTHealth Houston research identifies gaps in care for young cancer survivors

Research from UTHealth Houston reveals that young adult cancer survivors face critical gaps in long-term follow-up care, often lacking essential physical and emotional support.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uthealth-houston-research-identifies-gaps-in-care-for-young-cancer-survivors

### 2026-09-28: Cancer survivors face gaps in long-term survivorship care

Many of the 18.6 million cancer survivors in the US lack necessary survivorship care due to communication gaps between oncologists and primary care doctors.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cancer-survivors-face-gaps-in-long-term-survivorship-care

---
Cite as: US cancer survivorship care gaps. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-cancer-survivorship-care-gaps