By Julia Sprinkle, BS, LPN, CCRP, Mid-Illinois Hematology & Oncology Associates
The term survivor has been known to have several different meanings. When many people think of a cancer survivor they think of someone who has been treated for some form of cancer and are now in remission. In the past, a patient would be labeled a survivor at five years post treatment; however, today the definition of a cancer survivor has changed. The National Cancer Institute states that a person is a survivor from the time of diagnosis throughout the balance of their life. Family, friends, and caregivers are considered as secondary survivors, as they are also impacted by a loved one’s cancer journey.
There are three phases in survivorship that require different levels of care and follow-up with your medical care team. They are living with cancer (acute survivorship), living through cancer (extended survivorship), and living beyond cancer (permanent survivorship). A survivor is considered to be an acute survivor during the period after diagnosis and while receiving treatment for cancer, whether it is chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, or a combination of treatments. It is important for you to be an active participant in your treatment decisions and to remain informed of your designated treatment care plan.
In the extended survivor stage, the treatment for cancer is finished and it is time for regular follow ups with your oncology team to begin. In the past, many survivors were lost in the transition from active treatment to active follow-up during a time when the risk of recurrence is relatively high. In 2015 the American College of Surgeons, the professional organization that sets the standards for oncology care, will be requiring that each cancer treatment office or facility implement a survivorship program to help patients make this transition more successfully.
The survivorship program will include making a care plan to serve as a guide for the patient and their current and future health care team. The plan will entail the patients’ doctor’s contact information, diagnosis date, type of cancer including staging, dates, and types of treatments received, results of diagnostic tests, and a schedule of follow-up appointments and tests that are recommended. The care plan is tailored to the specific diagnosis of the patient. Following this care plan is important for maintaining the patient’s physical and emotional health.
Part of the survivorship care plan is checking for recurrence of cancer. This is also one of the goals of the extended survivor stage.
Recurrent cancer is cancer that has come back after treatment. Monitoring through follow up appointments and scheduled tests is the best way to detect a recurrence. Your doctor may educate you about specific signs or symptoms that may indicate a recurrence. Unfortunately, it is impossible for your doctor to foresee if you will have a recurrence or not.Management of long-term and late side effects is part of the permanent survivor stage. These side effects can be either physical or emotional changes. Some side effects do not develop until months or even years after cancer treatment. The side effects to look for differ based on the type of treatment you received and will be listed in your survivorship care plan. During permanent survivorship, patients should celebrate their recovery and transition into a new way of life.
Being a cancer survivor has many meanings and stages. Cancer treatment should be looked at in a multi-disciplinary way. There are many care providers involved, and keeping everyone informed is crucial. Having a survivorship program and receiving a survivorship care plan, the gap between providers can be minimized. The survivorship care plan is a good reference tool, not only for physicians, but for the patient as well, informing them of what to expect in the future.
For more information, you may contact Mid-Illinois Hematology & Oncology Associates, Ltd. 309-452-9701 or online at www.mihoaonline.org. They are an independent QOPI Certified practice located inside the Community Cancer Center at 407 E. Vernon Avenue in Normal. They also participate in many clinical trials related to cancer treatment. For information about clinical trials, you may contact Julia at 309-451-2207.