Surviving Cancer: It’s Not Over When It’s Over with Leslie Heron, RN, BSN, MN, ARNP, FNP-BC, NC-BC
The American Cancer Society and National Cancer Institute define cancer survivorship as beginning at diagnosis and extending to the end of life. In contrast, oncology visits drastically decrease at the end of acute or curative treatment and continue to taper to a close within a few years of treatment for most patients. There are extensive educational programs, specialized care, and ongoing research to study and treat cancer, but what happens when treatment ends?
With the availability of diagnostics and ever-improving cancer treatments, we see more people living with and beyond cancer. Some patients complete therapy in childhood and go on to old age. Some patients continue on preventative or maintenance therapies for years after treatment ends. Almost all cancer patients will return to their community providers for routine care as well as surveillance for new cancers or a recurrence.
From stage 1 breast cancer survivors to leukemia patients post-stem-cell transplant, there are documented effects from a cancer diagnosis and treatment. Fear of recurrence, fatigue, acute pain, sleep cycle disturbance, anxiety, peripheral neuropathy, body image changes, weight and appetite changes, nausea, hot flashes, weakness, hypothyroidism, kidney damage, heart damage, hormonal changes, infertility. The list goes on and on. Most of these effects are experienced during treatment, and we have acute interventions to ease symptoms in the moment. But what about persistent symptoms, when cancer treatment has ended? And what about symptoms and effects that occur years later? Many treatments have late effects on organs and tissues, accelerate the effects of aging, accentuate inherited conditions, and promote secondary cancers. Might this trajectory be altered with a collaborative focus on healthy lifestyle?
Permanent cancer Survivorship was described by Dr. Fitzhugh Mullan as its own unique “season” of cancer care. After his own cancer treatment had profound effects on all aspects of his life, he went on to Found the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship in 1986, to raise awareness and encourage research on the long-term and late effects of cancer and cancer treatment. Survivorship has now become an oncology sub-specialty but continues to be underrecognized and underappreciated in its importance to daily functioning, quality of life, and duration of survival.
This talk will provide a brief overview of cancer Survivorship and a call to action to address Survivorship concerns as part and parcel of the clinical care of any cancer survivor. Resources for naturopathic providers assessing for long-term and late effects will be reviewed. At least 3 specific Survivorship concerns will be discussed, including suggested screenings, interventions, patient education, and appropriate referrals, if indicated. Education and supportive resources to share with Survivors will also be included as a takeaway resource.
Learning Objectives
1) Recognize the risk for, and difference between, long-term and late effects from a variety of cancer treatments;
2) Identify naturopathic interventions for at least 3 common Survivorship concerns;
3) Have the resources to further explore Survivorship considerations in clinical practice;
4) Integrate Survivorship care as a tool to address the best possible outcomes for cancer survivors.
The American Cancer Society and National Cancer Institute define cancer survivorship as beginning at diagnosis and extending to the end of life. In contrast, oncology visits drastically decrease at the end of acute or curative treatment and continue to taper to a close within a few years of treatment for most patients. There are extensive educational programs, specialized care, and ongoing research to study and treat cancer, but what happens when treatment ends?
With the availability of diagnostics and ever-improving cancer treatments, we see more people living with and beyond cancer. Some patients complete therapy in childhood and go on to old age. Some patients continue on preventative or maintenance therapies for years after treatment ends. Almost all cancer patients will return to their community providers for routine care as well as surveillance for new cancers or a recurrence.
From stage 1 breast cancer survivors to leukemia patients post-stem-cell transplant, there are documented effects from a cancer diagnosis and treatment. Fear of recurrence, fatigue, acute pain, sleep cycle disturbance, anxiety, peripheral neuropathy, body image changes, weight and appetite changes, nausea, hot flashes, weakness, hypothyroidism, kidney damage, heart damage, hormonal changes, infertility. The list goes on and on. Most of these effects are experienced during treatment, and we have acute interventions to ease symptoms in the moment. But what about persistent symptoms, when cancer treatment has ended? And what about symptoms and effects that occur years later? Many treatments have late effects on organs and tissues, accelerate the effects of aging, accentuate inherited conditions, and promote secondary cancers. Might this trajectory be altered with a collaborative focus on healthy lifestyle?
Permanent cancer Survivorship was described by Dr. Fitzhugh Mullan as its own unique “season” of cancer care. After his own cancer treatment had profound effects on all aspects of his life, he went on to Found the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship in 1986, to raise awareness and encourage research on the long-term and late effects of cancer and cancer treatment. Survivorship has now become an oncology sub-specialty but continues to be underrecognized and underappreciated in its importance to daily functioning, quality of life, and duration of survival.
This talk will provide a brief overview of cancer Survivorship and a call to action to address Survivorship concerns as part and parcel of the clinical care of any cancer survivor. Resources for naturopathic providers assessing for long-term and late effects will be reviewed. At least 3 specific Survivorship concerns will be discussed, including suggested screenings, interventions, patient education, and appropriate referrals, if indicated. Education and supportive resources to share with Survivors will also be included as a takeaway resource.
Learning Objectives
1) Recognize the risk for, and difference between, long-term and late effects from a variety of cancer treatments;
2) Identify naturopathic interventions for at least 3 common Survivorship concerns;
3) Have the resources to further explore Survivorship considerations in clinical practice;
4) Integrate Survivorship care as a tool to address the best possible outcomes for cancer survivors.
The American Cancer Society and National Cancer Institute define cancer survivorship as beginning at diagnosis and extending to the end of life. In contrast, oncology visits drastically decrease at the end of acute or curative treatment and continue to taper to a close within a few years of treatment for most patients. There are extensive educational programs, specialized care, and ongoing research to study and treat cancer, but what happens when treatment ends?
With the availability of diagnostics and ever-improving cancer treatments, we see more people living with and beyond cancer. Some patients complete therapy in childhood and go on to old age. Some patients continue on preventative or maintenance therapies for years after treatment ends. Almost all cancer patients will return to their community providers for routine care as well as surveillance for new cancers or a recurrence.
From stage 1 breast cancer survivors to leukemia patients post-stem-cell transplant, there are documented effects from a cancer diagnosis and treatment. Fear of recurrence, fatigue, acute pain, sleep cycle disturbance, anxiety, peripheral neuropathy, body image changes, weight and appetite changes, nausea, hot flashes, weakness, hypothyroidism, kidney damage, heart damage, hormonal changes, infertility. The list goes on and on. Most of these effects are experienced during treatment, and we have acute interventions to ease symptoms in the moment. But what about persistent symptoms, when cancer treatment has ended? And what about symptoms and effects that occur years later? Many treatments have late effects on organs and tissues, accelerate the effects of aging, accentuate inherited conditions, and promote secondary cancers. Might this trajectory be altered with a collaborative focus on healthy lifestyle?
Permanent cancer Survivorship was described by Dr. Fitzhugh Mullan as its own unique “season” of cancer care. After his own cancer treatment had profound effects on all aspects of his life, he went on to Found the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship in 1986, to raise awareness and encourage research on the long-term and late effects of cancer and cancer treatment. Survivorship has now become an oncology sub-specialty but continues to be underrecognized and underappreciated in its importance to daily functioning, quality of life, and duration of survival.
This talk will provide a brief overview of cancer Survivorship and a call to action to address Survivorship concerns as part and parcel of the clinical care of any cancer survivor. Resources for naturopathic providers assessing for long-term and late effects will be reviewed. At least 3 specific Survivorship concerns will be discussed, including suggested screenings, interventions, patient education, and appropriate referrals, if indicated. Education and supportive resources to share with Survivors will also be included as a takeaway resource.
Learning Objectives
1) Recognize the risk for, and difference between, long-term and late effects from a variety of cancer treatments;
2) Identify naturopathic interventions for at least 3 common Survivorship concerns;
3) Have the resources to further explore Survivorship considerations in clinical practice;
4) Integrate Survivorship care as a tool to address the best possible outcomes for cancer survivors.