Understanding Cancer Survivorship
In the cancer awareness world, June is known as SURVIVORSHIP MONTH. It is a time to celebrate cancer patients. “Survivorship” refers to the phase of a cancer patient’s experience that follows the completion of initial treatment and continues through the remainder of their life. There are several phases of Survivorship:
- Living with Cancer: This involves the period during which a patient is undergoing treatment and managing the physical, emotional, and psychological challenges associated with the disease.
- Living Through Cancer: This phase occurs immediately after treatment ends and focuses on the transition from active treatment to post-treatment life. Patients may deal with side effects of treatment, follow-up care, and uncertainty about the future.
- Living Beyond Cancer: This long-term phase involves dealing with the late effects of treatment, the risk of cancer recurrence, and the psychosocial aspects of having survived cancer. It includes ongoing health monitoring, managing long-term side effects, and integrating the cancer experience into one’s life. A survivorship clinic is helpful during this phase.
Key Components of Cancer Survivorship
- Physical Health:
- Monitoring for cancer recurrence or the development of new cancers. The Cancer Team will set up a follow-up schedule of imaging and appointments.
- Managing long-term side effects of cancer treatments, such as fatigue, pain, and cognitive changes. Certain cancers have long-term side effects specific to that cancer; such as a laryngeal cancer patient with a tracheostomy and their speech being affected.
- Emotional and Psychological Well-being:
- Addressing mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and fear of recurrence.
- Providing support for coping with the changes in self-image and identity post-cancer. Look for support groups within the hospital system where you received your care or in your community.
- Social and Practical Aspects:
- Navigating changes in relationships with family, friends, and colleagues.
- Addressing issues related to employment, insurance, and financial stability. Connect with https://www.cancerandcareers.org for more information and assistance.
- Healthy Lifestyle Choices:
- Encouraging behaviors that can improve overall health and potentially reduce the risk of cancer recurrence, such as regular exercise, a healthy diet, and smoking cessation.
- Follow-Up Care:
- Establishing a survivorship care plan, which outlines the schedule for follow-up visits, recommended screenings, and steps for managing ongoing health issues.
- Coordination between oncology specialists and primary care providers to ensure comprehensive care.
Importance of Survivorship Care
Survivorship care is crucial because it helps cancer survivors achieve the best possible quality of life after treatment. It aims to:
- Address and mitigate the long-term and late effects of cancer and its treatment.
- Provide psychological support to help survivors cope with the emotional impact of cancer.
- Guide survivors in maintaining a healthy lifestyle to support long-term well-being.
- Ensure that survivors receive appropriate follow-up care and monitoring for recurrence or secondary cancers.
Many cancer care programs offer a survivorship clinic that will help their patients navigate from active cancer treatment to cancer survivor. For more support or information on survivorship contact your treating cancer care team, local community cancer chapter, or American Cancer Society at https://www.cancer.org
