Supporting long-term emotional, practical and health challenges
The Survivorship Initiative led by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer's Cancer Journey Action Group is addressing the needs of people living beyond cancer treatment.
This work builds on the findings of the National Survivorship Workshop in 2008. It brought together cancer survivors, health professionals, decision-makers and researchers in the first national meeting about the needs of cancer survivors in Canada.
Issues identified include:
• Ongoing health-care concerns, including symptom management, dealing with fatigue, pain, changes in diet, infertility and future clinical plans for transition, follow-up and screening
• Emotional and psychological challenges related to fear of recurrence, infertility, intimacy, returning to previous activities and regaining a sense of control over one's life
• Social and practical challenges, including financial hardships, isolation, lack of information and lack of access to support resources
Moving forward with a pan-Canadian survivorship strategy
A working group is co-chaired by David Muise, a cancer survivor and executive director of Family Service of Eastern Nova Scotia, and Elisabeth Ross, CEO of Ovarian Cancer Canada.
The National Survivorship Working Group's mandate is to develop action plans to address these issues and others that may be identified.
The current focus is on plans for implementing care maps and models of care to guide survivors and their caregivers through the transition and long-term phases following treatment.
Working group membership will consist of survivors, representatives from cancer agencies, patient and professional organizations, health-care providers and the community.
