Addressing Survivorship in Cancer Care

Abstract

As a disease, cancer can affect an individual's well-being, from physical to psychological, social, and even spiritual wellness. The cancer survivor population must navigate a complex, constantly evolving field, with the assistance of their care team, to conquer the disease. To address the unmet needs of the cancer survivorship community, NCCN conducted an environmental scan of existing and emerging aspects of survivorship cancer care through stakeholder meetings with survivors and patient advocacy groups to discuss needs, opportunities, and challenges in providing high-quality, patient-centered cancer survivorship care. The findings of this environmental scan directly informed the corresponding NCCN Patient Advocacy Summit: Addressing Survivorship in Cancer Care, held in Washington, DC, on December 1, 2017. In addition to the many patient advocacy groups, the summit featured stakeholders from all relevant areas of survivorship care. This article encapsulates the findings of the thorough environmental scan and the discussion from the NCCN Patient Advocacy Summit, including identified gaps and needs in addressing survivorship in cancer care.

Trained lay coaches and self-care cognitive-behavioral tools improve depression outcomes

“…The aging of the population and the increased prevalence of chronic disease have highlighted the need for accessible psychological support for mental health sequelae of physical illness [1,2]. Low intensity psychological interventions (e.g., self-care materials) have been proposed to meet the needs of the population, particularly those with less severe symptoms, often as the first step in a stepped care approach [3].…”

Defining a patient-centered approach to cancer survivorship care: development of the patient centered survivorship care index (PC-SCI)

“…The PC-SCI highlights survivors’ desire for better care coordination and transitions in survivorship care [ 25 , 59 ]. Practices such as referral coordination, care management, and transition visits improve the patient experience, as well as the quality of care [ 20 , 26 , 60 , 61 ]. With these practices in place, patient care is less fragmented and inconsistent, and may lower costs, reduce inappropriate care and improve health outcomes [ 56 , 62 ].…”

Is platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) a predictor of thrombosis and together with circulating tumor cells capable to determine recurrence-free survival in patients with gastric cancer?

“…It is not enough to make the cancer remit, but it is necessary to re-establish the best quality of life and the maximum individual and social functionality. (86) Various symptoms are underdiagnosed, underevaluated and inadequately treated in patients with cancer. Many successful treatments cause changes in body image and endocrine changes.…”