Survivorship & Support

Individuals in the Colorectal Cancer Survivorship Program have regularly scheduled follow-up examinations with Zana Correa, a nurse practitioner with special training in colorectal cancer survivorship issues. Ms. Correa is a graduate of New York University's Nurse Practitioner program and has worked at Memorial Sloan-Kettering since 2001. She is a member of the Colorectal Cancer Disease Management Team and leads our efforts to provide optimal care to patients following their treatment.

Follow-Up Care

One test that may be done periodically is a check for tumor markers -- proteins in your bloodstream that may signal the presence of cancer cells. For colorectal cancer, this marker is CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen). Rising levels of CEA in a person who has had cancer may sometimes (but not always) provide an early warning that the cancer has returned, allowing for prompt treatment.

If your treatment for colorectal cancer included the construction of a permanent colostomy, you will probably meet with an enterostomal therapist, a person who will teach you how to clean the area and prevent irritation and infection. He or she will also instruct you on how to maintain your colostomy on a daily basis.

Other Aspects of Survivorship

To help patients manage some of the other issues that may come up in survivorship, Memorial Sloan-Kettering offers a wide range of programs for patients, including the following:

• Memorial Sloan-Kettering Counseling Center

  Our Counseling Center offers individual and family counseling sessions to help patients and their families address the problems that they may encounter in adjusting to life during and after treatment.

• Living Beyond Cancer

  People facing the challenges of cancer survivorship can access a variety of support services through the Living Beyond Cancer section of our Web site. This section includes information about professionally led support groups and counseling; survivorship clinics to manage late effects of cancer and treatment; recommendations about screening and healthy living; and specialized services to address sexual and reproductive health. We also offer a range of resources to help survivors, families, and friends better understand the complex emotional and social issues following treatment.

  Additional services are offered through our Post-Treatment Resource Program, which provides a full range of educational support services, including individual and family counseling, periodic lectures or workshops to provide medical updates, and practical guidance on employment and insurance issues.

• Integrative Medicine Service

  Our Integrative Medicine Service is designed to enhance cancer patients' quality of life through healing regimens that address the body, mind, and spirit. Beneficial complementary therapies include various types of massage, acupuncture, hypnotherapy, meditation, visualization and other mind-body therapies, music therapy, and nutritional counseling, as well as classes such as yoga, t'ai chi, and chair aerobics.

• Rehabilitation Therapy

  After treatment for colorectal cancer, patients may notice changes in their range of motion, strength, flexibility, balance, and endurance. For patients with colorectal cancer, rehabilitation therapy provides a means to improve function and mobility after abdominal surgery or other medical treatments. At Memorial Sloan-Kettering, physical therapists provide patients with valuable information regarding mobility, pain management, and energy conservation. Shortly after admission to the hospital, and upon the request of the medical team, a physical therapist will evaluate patient's functional needs and design an individualized treatment and exercise plan to improve function and mobility by increasing strength, endurance, and balance. Our occupational therapists educate patients about the changes that can result from treatment and about adaptive equipment and compensatory techniques that can increase their independence during their daily routines. See Rehabilitation for further information about our services, including appointment information.

• Help for the Older Cancer Patient

  A diagnosis of cancer is difficult at any age, but older patients face unique challenges. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center is committed to providing cancer patients aged 65 and older with the treatment, facilities, and support they need.

  Memorial Sloan-Kettering offers the services of a multidisciplinary geriatric team, which includes physicians, clinical nurse specialists, social workers, nutritionists, and psychiatrists, as well as members of the Pain and Palliative Care Department and the Integrative Medicine Service. The programs and care the team provides focus on the needs of elderly cancer patients.

  For more information about our services for older patients as well as for their family and friends, visit the Help for the Older Patient section of our Web site.

• Screening & Wellness

  Memorial Sloan-Kettering provides numerous prevention, screening, and wellness services. Information about these services; guidance on how to stop smoking; and how to follow a healthy diet can be found on our Web site in the Prevention & Screening section.