Welcome to

Cancer Survivorship Care

Going through cancer is hard. Getting the right information can help and this portal is a good starting point if you want to learn more about Cancer Survivorship. You’ll find trusted links to other websites with helpful information, support, and advice.

Important Information:

Always talk to your doctor before making any health decisions.
The websites we link to are managed by other organizations. We choose trusted sources, but we don’t control the information they share.

Thank you for visiting, and we hope you find the resources helpful as you move forward.

What is Survivorship Care?

General Survivorship Care Information

Survivorship care helps people stay healthy after cancer treatment. It includes services to manage long-term side effects, check for cancer coming back, and support a healthy lifestyle.

Important Parts of Survivorship Care

Regular Checkups: Doctors watch for signs of cancer coming back and check for new cancers.
Managing Side Effects: Help with physical, emotional, and social challenges after treatment.
Staying Healthy: Tips to prevent new health problems and support overall wellness.
Teamwork in Care: Doctors and healthcare providers work together to give the best care.

Click the links below for more information on Cancer Survivorship Care

Survivorship: During and After Treatment – Provides helpful information on life after cancer treatment, covering topics like managing side effects, emotional well-being, healthy living, and finding support.

National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship – Cancer Survivorship Toolbox – A free resource to help cancer survivors develop important skills for managing their care. It includes audio programs on communication, decision-making, and finding support.

American Cancer Society – Caregivers and Family – Offers support and guidance for caregivers of cancer patients. It provides practical tips for managing caregiving, self-care, and emotional support.

Helpful Apps and Tools

LivingWith® app – An app designed to help cancer patients and survivors track symptoms, manage care, and stay connected with loved ones and healthcare providers.

Royal Berkshire NHS Guide – A guide to recommended apps for cancer patients and survivors. Includes tools for tracking treatment, managing symptoms, improving mental health, and staying active.

Phases of Survivorship

Survivorship is often divided into three key phases:

Acute Survivorship

This phase begins at diagnosis and continues through the end of initial treatment. The focus is on treating cancer and managing immediate side effects.

Extended Survivorship

This phase starts after initial treatment ends and includes the months following. It involves monitoring for recurrence and managing lingering side effects.

Permanent Survivorship

This long-term phase begins when a person is cancer-free for several years. The focus shifts to maintaining health, managing long-term effects, and ensuring regular follow-up care.

For more detailed information, you can visit the Cleveland Clinic’s overview on cancer survivorship

Glossary of Terms in Survivorship Care

These terms are essential for understanding the various aspects of survivorship care and ensuring effective communication between patients and healthcare providers.

Cancer Survivorship
Means living with cancer from diagnosis onward. It includes the physical, emotional, social, and financial effects of cancer on a person’s life.
Follow-Up Care
Ongoing check-ups to watch for cancer’s return and manage health.
Health Promotion
Healthy habits like eating well, exercising, and quitting smoking.
Late Effects
Health problems that appear months or years after treatment.
Palliative Care
Care that eases symptoms and stress from serious illness.
Psychosocial Support
Help for emotional and social challenges, like counseling and support groups.
Recurrence
When cancer comes back after a time of improvement.
Remission
When cancer signs shrink or disappear, either partly or completely.
Surveillance
Regular tests to check for cancer coming back or new cancers
Survivorship Care Plan
A guide for follow-up care, managing side effects, and staying healthy.

National Cancer Institute Division of Cancer Control & Population Sciences Definitions