Cancer Survivorship: Surviving and ThrivingDid you know there are more than 12 million cancer survivors in the United States alone? And, the percentage of cancer survivors living for five years (or more) beyond treatment has increased? This is excellent news for all of us, particularly since the individual risk for getting cancer is more than one in three—meaning many of us will know someone who has or had cancer or we may experience it for ourselves.
Once you’ve been diagnosed, cancer becomes a permanent part of your health history. Its impact, including the treatment you received, can change the way your health is monitored and maintained in the years to come.
“Survivorship is really a phase of care,” says Linda Jacobs, PhD, RN, Director of the LIVESTRONG Program at the Abramson Cancer Center. “There are specific issues such as late effects and risks that should be addressed.”
What is a Care Plan?
A care plan provides you with details about the type of cancer you had, the treatment you received and the possible long-term effects or risks associated with that treatment. The plan is instrumental to a cancer survivor’s long-term health and should be shared with your primary care physician.
“It’s important that you and your primary care physician understand what you are at risk for, whether it’s osteoporosis or cardiovascular disease, so you and your provider have a better idea of what type of screening you may need and when you might need it,” says James Metz, MD, Clinical Director, Department of Radiation Oncology. “In the past, only about 8 percent of cancer survivors received this type of information. Our hope is to dramatically increase that number and give patients the information they need.”
Free Program Provides Details You Need
To help, Penn Medicine’s OncoLink is partnering with the Lance Armstrong Foundation to offer online care plans that can be tailored to your individual disease and treatment. Developed by Penn’s board-certified physicians and highly experienced nurses, the online care plan is free, anonymous, and takes only about six minutes to complete. Based on your health history, it can tell you the potential side effects or risks of treatment, categorized by chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, surgery, and radiation.
Certain treatments for ob/gyn cancer, for example, can increase your risk for premature menopause, vaginal dryness, and bladder difficulties. “If patients have had radiation therapy, then they can also be at an increased risk for issues related to the bowel or GI tract. There may be fertility concerns, too,” says Lori Smith, CRNP. “Your primary care doctor may not be aware of those risks or chemotherapy side effects. So, from a clinical perspective, it’s very helpful for your doctor to receive the care plan and know what type of treatment you’ve had and what you may be at risk for in the future.”
Take Control of Your Long-Term Health
When it comes to your lifelong good health, awareness is key—although you may not be ready to think about your long-term health at the time of diagnosis. “It’s not uncommon for a cancer patient to be in shock over her diagnosis or so focused on getting through treatment that she might not have the energy to really read through all the information regarding her long-term health,” says Maggie Hampshire, RN, CRNP, Managing Editor of OncoLink. “The care plan helps organize and track that information.”
In addition, there may be things you can do to diminish or negate some side effects. “For women who have had radiation therapy to the pelvis, for example, vaginal dilators may help alleviate discomfort associated with intercourse. This kind of information, based on the type of cancer and type of treatment, is included in the care plan and can be very helpful to a survivor,” says Hampshire.
“It’s important to remember that not every survivor experiences every side effect,” continues Hampshire, “but having the information can help normalize the experience for you. And, it can be very empowering to take control of your health in this way.”
For more information about cancer survivorship, visit the OncoLink Web site or call 800-789-PENN (7366).
About LIVESTRONG with the Lance Armstrong Foundation
Founded by the famous cyclist, the Lance Armstrong Foundation focuses on prevention, access to screening and care, investment in research, and improvement of the quality of life for cancer survivors. The Foundation’s premiere event is the LIVESTRONG Challenge, which was recently held throughout the world and in Philadelphia. As part of the Challenge in Philadelphia, men, women, and children throughout our region walked, ran, or rode to help raise funds for the fight against cancer. For more information, please visit the Lance Armstrong Foundation Web site.
Experiencing Cancer Firsthand |
Today, it’s not uncommon for many of us to experience cancer firsthand—either as a patient ourselves or as a friend or family member of a patient. As you move through this experience and look to the future, there are a few points to keep in mind.
Survivorship Begins Day One. A cancer survivor is anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer. The diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing survivorship after cancer are a journey, one that requires ongoing surveillance and follow-up.
Keep a Log. Keep a log or diary of your experience, including when you were diagnosed, what treatments you received, and issues or concerns you may have. It often helps to write down side effects you may be experiencing so you can monitor their frequency and remember to ask your physician or nurse about them.
Don’t Forget the Big Picture. Cancer is a chronic illness, meaning that its impact on your overall well-being needs to be monitored for the rest of your life. As you complete treatment and return to your primary doctor for ongoing care, you may have more imaging studies and/or tests or you may start them earlier than non-cancer patients. But it does not necessarily restrict your ability to live a happy, healthy life now and into the future.
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Personalized Survivorship Care Planning |
The Survivorship Program at the Jordan Center for Gynecologic Cancer at Penn offers personalized care plan services to patients. Our staff will work closely with you and your family to review the components of the LIVESTRONG Care Plan. Since every person’s cancer is unique, we will tailor your plan to meet your distinct needs.
The Jordan Center will help you create a Survivorship Care Plan that includes:
- Potential late effect symptoms and treatment
- Recommendations for cancer screening (recurrence or new primary)
- Psychosocial effects (relationships and sexuality)
- Financial issues (work, insurance and employment)
- Recommendations for a healthy lifestyle
- Genetic counseling
- Effective prevention options
- Referrals for follow-up care and a list of support resources
- Fertility or reproductive options
Led by Lori Smith, CRNP, our program provides compassionate care in a confidential setting and works closely with you and your doctor. Our staff is available to address any additional questions or concerns that you may not feel comfortable asking your provider.
Once your care plan is compiled, we encourage patients to review the information with their health care providers and become active participants in their follow-up care. Contact the Jordan Center for Gynecologic Cancer at 800-789-PENN (7366) or create your care plan online at LIVESTRONGcareplan.org. |
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