Cancer Survivorship

The American Cancer Society projects that nearly two million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. during 2023. The top three cancers among men are prostate, lung and colon. For women, the top three cancers are breast, lung and colon.

Thanks to ongoing scientific research, however, medical professionals have a much greater understanding of cancer and many more effective options to fight the disease than ever before.

“Increasingly, we are curing cancer or modifying its course to avoid complications. Patients are living longer with cancer more like a chronic disease and enjoying a better quality of life,” said Ibrahim Sadek, M.D., Board-certified medical oncologist with Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute. “Even patients with stage 4 and metastatic cancers are in or beyond remission and their cancers are gone for good.”

Each June, people around the world come together to recognize and celebrate everyone who is living with a history of cancer and raise awareness of the ongoing challenges faced by cancer survivors. This includes the more than 18 million Americans, just over 5% of the population, who are able to call themselves cancer survivors.

Three Phases of Survivorship
By definition, a person becomes a survivor at the time of diagnosis and continues to be a survivor through the rest of their life. Survivorship is looked at in three distinct phases: diagnosis, treatment and life after treatment.

Though many patients go on to lead very healthy, normal lives, it is important to acknowledge that, for some, life may never be the same as it was before diagnosis. There can be long-term and late effects of chemotherapy and radiation, including ongoing emotional stress, as well as the patient’s desire to prevent cancer recurrence.

Survivorship: Care Beyond Cancer Treatment
Most patients diagnosed with early-stage cancer can expect their overall health and functioning to return to near normal levels, while others with certain types of cancer and those diagnosed at later stages may face other challenges.

According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), survivorship focuses on “… the physical, mental, emotional, social and financial effects of cancer that begin at diagnosis and continue through treatment and beyond.” The goal throughout survivorship is to experience as high a quality of life as possible.

While the end of successful cancer treatment is a time for celebration, it can also mean new challenges. Milestones such as returning to work, managing emotional issues and managing the ongoing physical effects of cancer and treatment can also present unanticipated changes for patients and their families.

The key to returning to a normal life after cancer treatment may be found in establishing new habits of diet and exercise or learning ways to cope with a range of emotional and physical challenges.

Nutrition and Exercise
Cancer survivors typically should turn first to their care team for information and advice about nutrition, physical activity and dietary supplements to improve quality of life and long-term survival.

In times past, doctors often advised patients to rest and reduce physical activity to avoid fatigue associated with cancer and treatment. If patients experience pain, shortness of breath or rapid heart rate, this is good advice; however, recent research indicates that exercise during and after treatment can be safe and beneficial. Your cancer team is the best resource for beginning or resuming a more active post-cancer lifestyle, and they can refer patients and family caregivers to other professionals for a personalized post-treatment plan.

Physical and Emotional Challenges
The aftereffects of chemotherapy, surgery or radiation therapy should not be underestimated. Pain, fatigue and nausea are not unusual. More serious conditions can include anemia, lymphedema (a buildup of fluid in fatty tissues just beneath the skin) and even severe infections. For both men and women, cancer and cancer treatment can cause changes in fertility and side effects in sexuality.

Your oncology team is trained to monitor and manage the short- and long-term effects of treatment, so it is important to discuss your concerns with your team and then follow their instructions and recommendations.

The emotional side of cancer survivorship touches patients, families and others close to them. The stress associated with a cancer diagnosis and the physical effects of treatment are often still fresh in memory. Survivors and their families can feel a complicated mixture of relief and yet still worry about the future. Some people suffer episodes of anxiety and even depression. All these are matters to discuss with your oncology team, who can help you achieve balance or refer you to another appropriate professional if needed.

Health Care After Cancer
In the rush to put cancer in the past, it is important to remember that the end of treatment does not mean the end of seeing your cancer team. Most often, long-term follow-up appointments and tests, followed by routine checkups and health screenings, will continue for many years. It is important to keep your follow-up appointments and undergo tests and screenings as recommended by your oncologist. There is no absolute certainty that seeing your oncologist will prevent cancer from returning, but it will help make sure that any recurrence is detected and treated early.

The National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation reminds us this month, “Surviving cancer is something to celebrate, but it is not the end of the story. Cancer changes your health and your life forever.” CancerCare is a national organization providing free, professional support services and information to help those who have completed cancer treatment manage the emotional, practical and financial challenges. To learn more, visit CancerCare.org.

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About Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, LLC: (FLCancer.com)
Founded in 1984, Florida Cancer Specialists has built a national reputation for excellence that is reflected in exceptional and compassionate patient care, driven by innovative clinical research, cutting-edge technologies and advanced treatments, including targeted therapies, genomic-based treatment and immunotherapy. Our highest values are embodied by our outstanding team of highly trained and dedicated physicians, clinicians and staff.

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