LIVESTRONG™ Survivorship Program
In 2007, Penn's Abramson Cancer Center was designated a LIVESTRONG™ Survivorship Center of Excellence Network. The Abramson Cancer Center is only one of eight LIVESTRONG™ centers in the United States, and is the only LIVESTRONG™ Survivorship Center of Excellence in the Philadelphia region.
The LIVESTRONG™ Survivorship Program at Penn Medicine focuses on survivorship as a distinct phase of cancer care designed to help patients transition from active treatment to post-cancer care follow-up.
At the end of treatment, patients should schedule survivorship visits with their medical oncologist and nurse practitioner. At this time, patients are provided with a summary of the treatment received as well as a plan for follow-up care. As every cancer is unique, the plans are tailored to the individual patient.
The survivorship care plan includes information on:
- Potential long-term or late side effects of cancer treatment, including symptoms and treatment options
- Recommendations for cancer screening for disease recurrence or a new cancer
- Psychosocial effects, including effects on relationships and sexuality
- Planning follow-up visits
A survivorship care plan encourages patients to review the information with their healthcare team and become active participants in their follow-up care.
Learn more about the LIVESTRONG™ Survivorship Center of Excellence at Penn Medicine
