Today, more people survive cancer than ever before. There are over 18 million cancer survivors in the U.S. alone, a number that continues to grow as advances in treatment and diagnosis are made. Not only are survivors at risk for recurrence of their primary cancer, but complex treatments place them at risk for long-term and late effects such as secondary malignancies, cardiovascular disease, endocrine disorders, and general symptom distress. Cancer survivors require long-term, tailored survivorship care as a result of these medical problems.
Paving the Way: The First of Its Kind
To address the need for long-term survivorship care, the Abramson Cancer Center developed the first adult cancer survivorship program in the U.S.in 2001. It has evolved into the premiere survivorship program in the country.
Our program provides specialized care in our disease specific clinical programs addressing the wide array of physical and mental health issues experienced by cancer survivors and their families. Our programs provide an unparalleled resource for all cancer survivors regardless of where they were treated, and the amount of time since they had any follow-up care. We also offer a unique program that draws adults diagnosed between the ages of 18 and 39, as well as adult survivors of childhood cancer from all over the region to the Abramson Cancer Center for follow-up care and support.
We continue to serve as a resource for hospitals and cancer centers across the country, offering education programs for providers and consultation for developing survivorship programs.
Transitioning From Active Treatment to Survivorship Care
The goal of the Survivorship Program team of experienced oncology nurse practitioners, physician's assistants and physicians is to provide state-of-the-art follow-up care, with specialty providers, and minimize and control potential late effects. Success is when we have delivered the knowledge, personal support, and medical expertise needed to allow each survivor to enjoy a fulfilled life.
What Are Late Effects?
About two-thirds of cancer survivors will experience a late effect, either physical or psychosocial, of diagnosis, chemotherapy or radiation that persists or develops more than five years from the time of diagnosis. Knowing your risks can help you and your health care team appropriately monitor your health. They will discuss any pertinent long-term and late effects with you and develop a plan to monitor and treat them based on your level of risk to develop any of them.
How the Program Works
Ask your oncology care team to refer you to the survivorship program or call yourself for an appointment. We provide the follow-up care and routine surveillance for disease recurrence and for other cancers post treatment by ordering appropriate scans, labs and other studies at a comprehensive follow-up/survivorship care visit. We also work with other providers to assist you in maintaining long-term health and well-being.
You can be seen in the survivorship program regardless of when you completed your cancer treatment.
You will complete a questionnaire and tell us about any symptoms you are experiencing that can help us identify some of the potential late effects of your cancer treatment.
These questions will help to identify:
- Heart, thyroid, and bone density problems
- Fertility issues
- Intimacy and sexuality concerns
- Genetic risk of cancer among children or siblings
- Risk for developing another cancer
- Quality of life issues
Based on this evaluation, you may be referred to appropriate specialty providers such as an endocrinologist, cardiologist, a fertility and psychosocial counselor, a nutritionist and/or cancer rehabilitation specialist. Our team may also recommend research opportunities and consultations with other support services. . You are provided with the information and tools you need for optimal well-being.
Psychological and Social Support Services
Cancer has a profound emotional effect on many patients and their loved ones during the course of illness, treatment, and recovery. These feelings can continue after treatment has ended and the disease has gone into remission. Dealing with these issues can cause significant distress, and it is important to have support at these times.
We can coordinate the appropriate psychological services to help you and your family cope with the emotional side of cancer if you would like a referral.
Survivorship After Childhood Cancer
More and more children are getting diagnosed early and doing well after a cancer diagnosis. In fact, the majority of young people diagnosed with cancer below the age of 18 are expected to have excellent outcomes.
As more children with cancer have better results, the number of adults who had cancer as a child continues to rise. This reflects the efforts of cancer researchers around the country who have dedicated their lives to finding better treatments that also reduce the potential long-term side effects from cancer and its treatments.
The Abramson Cancer Center Survivorship Program also provides services with a team that includes a navigator, a pediatric oncologist trained in young adult medicine and an experienced oncology and primary care nurse practitioner. We are committed to helping each cancer survivor find ways to enjoy life to the fullest by focusing on you and your medical situation and personal questions or needs. We help you understand the effects that your prior surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy may have long-term on your health. Because we know that there may be psychological effects directly related to having had cancer as a child, our team is also prepared to help address your concerns. Other issues, such as insurance and infertility, are also discussed in a private, supportive environment.
Survivorship Research
A growing portfolio of research complements our clinical care and ensures that the Abramson Cancer Center is prepared to meet the current and future needs of cancer survivors. Findings from our research efforts have been published in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship, the Journal of Oncology Practice, the Journal of Community and Supportive Oncology, and the Journal of Medical Internet Research to name a few.
One such study looked at young adult survivors' confidence to manage their own health care and found that nearly half of survivors ages 18-to-39 did not have a good understanding of their disease or the treatments they received.
For more information about the Abramson Cancer Center Survivorship Program and to make an appointment, contact the program navigator at: 215-615-3329