Survivorship Center

Survivorship Center: Developing a Survivorship Program

In the course of developing our survivorship program, there were a number of questions that we found it helpful to answer as part of the planning process. We believe the questions below may facilitate the development of successful survivorship program at other institutions.

How does survivorship fit into the mission of the institution? Who will have oversight responsibility for the program?
We suggest engaging the leaders of the institution when answering this question.
What patient population do you envision will participate in your survivorship program?
Knowing this information is important for developing the size and scope of the survivorship program.
What services would patients like?
To answer this question, we suggest conducting a needs assessment or holding a focus group with patients.
What are the post-treatment programs that are feasible for your institution to provide?
Examples include:
- Medical follow-up care
- Psychosocial services
- Educational opportunities
- Survivorship research
What programs and services already exist?
What existing programs could be expanded to include post-treatment patients?
Examples of programs and services include:
- Support groups
- Patient education seminars
- Counseling
- Complementary medicine
- Physical rehabilitation
- Sexual health
- Nutrition services
- Smoking cessation
- Long-term follow-up care
If you plan to offer medical follow-up care, reflect on the following:
Which patient populations can you serve?
- Pediatric
- Young adult
- Adult
Who will the provider be?
- Nurse practitioner
- Oncologist
- Physician assistant
- Primary care physician
- Multidisciplinary team
Will the care be ongoing or a consult service?

How will patients learn about survivorship services?
- Referral from other healthcare practitioners
- Recruit patients who were not treated at your institution

Upcoming Continuing Education Programs

We are planning to offer continuing education programs on developing a survivorship program. If you would like to be made aware of opportunities when they are available, please submit your e-mail address.

assessment (uh-SES-ment)

In healthcare, a process used to learn about a patient’s condition. This may include a complete medical history, medical tests, a physical exam, a test of learning skills, tests to find out if the patient is able to carry out the tasks of daily living, a mental health evaluation, and a review of social support and community resources available to the patient.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

follow-up (FAH-loh-up)

Monitoring a person's health over time after treatment. This includes keeping track of the health of people who participate in a clinical study or clinical trial for a period of time, both during the study and after the study ends.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

multidisciplinary (MUL-tee-DIH-sih-plih-NAYR-ee)

In medicine, a term used to describe a treatment planning approach or team that includes a number of doctors and other health care professionals who are experts in different specialties (disciplines). In cancer treatment, the primary disciplines are medical oncology (treatment with drugs), surgical oncology (treatment with surgery), and radiation oncology (treatment with radiation).

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

nurse (nurs)

A health professional trained to care for people who are ill or disabled.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

nutrition (noo-TRIH-shun)

The taking in and use of food and other nourishing material by the body. Nutrition is a 3-part process. First, food or drink is consumed. Second, the body breaks down the food or drink into nutrients. Third, the nutrients travel through the bloodstream to different parts of the body where they are used as "fuel" and for many other purposes. To give the body proper nutrition, a person has to eat and drink enough of the foods that contain key nutrients.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

physician (fih-ZIH-shun)

Medical doctor.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

primary care (PRY-mayr-ee kayr)

Health services that meet most basic health care needs over time. Primary care includes physical exams, treatment of common medical conditions, and preventive care such as immunizations and screenings. Primary care doctors are usually the first health professionals patients see for basic medical care. They may refer a patient to a specialist if needed.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

psychosocial (SY-koh-SOH-shul)

In medicine, describes the psychological (emotional) and social parts of a disease and its treatment. Some of the psychosocial parts of cancer are its effects on patients’ feelings, moods, beliefs, the way they cope, and relationships with family, friends, and co-workers.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

referral (reh-FER-ul)

In medicine, the act of a doctor in which a patient is sent to another doctor for additional healthcare services.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

survivorship (ser-VY-ver-ship)

In cancer, survivorship covers the physical, psychosocial, and economic issues of cancer, from diagnosis until the end of life. It focuses on the health and life of a person with cancer beyond the diagnosis and treatment phases. Survivorship includes issues related to the ability to get health care and follow-up treatment, late effects of treatment, second cancers, and quality of life. Family members, friends, and caregivers are also part of the survivorship experience.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)