Survivorship Care: Enhancing Quality of Life with Evidence-Based Strategies

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The Evolving Landscape of Cancer Survivorship: Addressing the Challenges and Charting a Course for Optimal Care

By archyde.com News Desk | March 21, 2025

As the number of cancer survivors in the United States continues to climb, experts are focusing on the multifaceted challenges they face and innovative approaches to provide complete, patient-centered care. We delve into the key issues and solutions shaping the future of cancer survivorship.

The Growing Population of Cancer Survivors: A Cause for Celebration and a Call to Action

The United States has witnessed remarkable progress in cancer detection and treatment, leading to a significant increase in the number of cancer survivors. As of 2025, approximately 20 million Americans are living with a history of cancer, a figure projected to reach 26 or 27 million by 2040, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the American cancer Society (ACS). This is “unprecedented growth” according to experts.This demographic shift underscores the urgent need for robust survivorship programs that address the unique needs of this population.

The NCI and ACS define an individual as a cancer survivor from the moment of diagnosis,emphasizing that survivorship care should be integrated throughout the cancer journey,not just after treatment completion.

Navigating the complex Challenges of Cancer Survivorship

Cancer survivors encounter a wide range of challenges that can impact their physical, emotional, and practical well-being. These challenges can vary depending on the type of cancer, treatment received, and individual circumstances. Dr. Frank J. Penedo, PhD, Director of Cancer survivorship and Supportive care at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Centre, highlights the multifaceted nature of these challenges:

If we look at the cancer care continuum from diagnosis all the way through end of life, the challenges can vary. At diagnosis, there is a lot of uncertainty and anxiety.How bad is the cancer? Is it treatable? What will the treatment be like? There is not only anxiety and fear but also depression and changes to lifestyle factors. Physical activity, nutrition, and social interactions take a hit once the treatment planning begins.

The initial diagnosis period is often marked by profound uncertainty and anxiety. Patients grapple with questions about the severity of their condition, treatment options, and potential side effects. This emotional distress can lead to depression and significant lifestyle changes, including reduced physical activity, altered nutrition, and diminished social interaction.

Beyond the initial shock of diagnosis, survivors face a barrage of facts and complex treatment decisions. Conditions such as breast and prostate cancer present varied treatment pathways, adding to the cognitive burden. The financial strain of cancer treatment, often referred to as “financial toxicity,” further compounds these challenges.

It’s crucial to recognize that cancer does not occur in isolation. Survivors frequently enough contend with pre-existing health conditions (comorbidities) and socioeconomic factors (social determinants of health) that can exacerbate their challenges. These factors include financial instability, lack of access to healthcare, and social isolation.

Disparities in cancer outcomes are especially concerning. individuals with limited financial resources, those from racial and ethnic minority groups, residents of rural communities, and members of the LGBTQ+ community often experience poorer outcomes regarding both disease management and quality of life.

The Strain on the Oncology Workforce and the Shift to Primary Care

The increasing number of cancer survivors is placing a significant strain on the oncology workforce, which already faces a shortage of oncologists.As Dr. Penedo notes,

We have a shortage of oncologists; we don’t have enough oncologists to take care of our patients. The longer-term care of our patients, particularly those who have completed primary treatment, starts getting shifted toward primary care settings. We have a shortage of primary care physicians as well, and primary care physicians or providers in those settings are not trained to deal with cancer, so that’s a big challenge. Balance that against the increasing number of cancer survivors, and that creates a barrier to effective care.

This shortage necessitates a shift in long-term care management toward primary care settings. However, primary care physicians often lack specialized training in cancer survivorship, creating a potential barrier to effective care.

Innovative Approaches to Survivorship Care: The University of Miami Model

Institutions like the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami are pioneering patient-centered survivorship programs that address the holistic needs of cancer survivors. These programs are grounded in recommendations from leading organizations such as the National Academy of Sciences, the NCI, and the ACS.

Key components of these programs include:

• Comprehensive assessment: Identifying psychosocial, physical, and practical needs, including transportation, childcare, and financial counseling.
• Psychosocial Support: Offering support groups and multidisciplinary services such as art and music therapy, massage therapy, psychology, and psychiatric treatment.
• Evidence-Based Interventions: Providing services supported by research demonstrating their positive impact on survivor outcomes.

These programs are designed to improve quality of life, physical health, and reduce emergency department visits and hospital readmissions.Systematic assessments and timely interventions can prevent patients from decompensating and experiencing clinical crises.

The Benefits of Comprehensive Survivorship Care: Improved Outcomes and Enhanced quality of Life

The benefits of providing comprehensive survivorship care extend beyond improved physical health. By addressing the emotional, social, and practical needs of survivors, these programs contribute to a higher quality of life.

Research consistently demonstrates that interventions such as education, stress management, nutrition counseling, and physical activity can significantly improve outcomes such as fatigue and depression.

Dr. Penedo emphasizes that the primary goal is

being able to provide the moast optimal and best quality of life possible.

He cites evidence indicating that systematic assessments of patient needs, followed by appropriate interventions, are associated with reduced rates of emergency department visits and hospital readmissions. He adds,

If you’re intervening in time… you’re able to prevent the patient from decompensating to a level where they get to a clinical episode that requires an emergency [department].

Practical Steps for Cancer Care Providers: Integrating Survivorship Care into Practice

Cancer centers and community oncology clinics are increasingly recognizing the importance of survivorship care and are working to integrate it into their practices. Key

What do you think the biggest barrier is to improving the lives of cancer survivors?

Interview: Addressing Challenges in Cancer Survivorship with Dr. Anya Sharma

By archyde.com News Desk | March 21, 2025

Introduction

Welcome, Dr. Sharma. It’s a pleasure to have you with us today to discuss the evolving landscape of cancer survivorship. For our readers, Dr. Anya Sharma is a leading expert in oncology and the Chief of Survivorship Programs at the renowned CityHope Cancer Center.

The Rising Tide of Cancer Survivors

Archyde: The statistics are striking, Dr. Sharma. We’re seeing an unprecedented increase in the number of cancer survivors. What are the primary implications of this demographic shift?

Dr. Sharma: Thanks for having me. Indeed, the growth is remarkable. This increase in the number of cancer survivors, projected to reach upwards of 27 million in the coming years, highlights an urgent need for complete survivorship programs. It really calls for patient-centered care that supports their physical, emotional, and practical needs throughout their journey, not just at the end of treatment.

Addressing Challenges in Cancer Survivorship

Archyde: Cancer survivors face many challenges. Can you outline some of the most significant hurdles thay encounter post-treatment?

Dr. Sharma: Absolutely. Challenges vary greatly depending on the cancer type and treatment,but common issues include managing side effects,dealing with emotional distress like anxiety and depression,and coping with financial toxicity. Addressing those issues is critical for improving the patient’s quality of life.

Risk-Stratified survivorship Care

Archyde: Given these diverse challenges, how is CityHope structuring its survivorship programs?

Dr. Sharma: We are actively working to integrate survivorship care into the oncology pathway. Risk-stratified models are becoming crucial.while algorithms are still being developed for many cancer types, it enables us to tailor the strategies to the individual’s specific needs based on their cancer type and treatment history.

The Role of primary Care

Archyde: A point that dr. Penedo mentioned is the strain on the oncology workforce. Due to this, long-term care is shifting to primary care settings. What do you think about that?

Dr. Sharma: This is an important point. Primary care physicians are essential to the long-term care of cancer survivors. Though, they may lack the specialised training in cancer survivorship. Enhanced collaboration and training between oncology and primary care teams is critical to make this a reality, and we, as cancer centers need to start doing more to ease the process.

Innovation and Improved Outcomes

Archyde: What specific innovative interventions are proving most effective in improving survivor outcomes?

Dr. Sharma: At CityHope, we’re seeing great success with comprehensive assessments. We are identifying psychosocial, physical, and practical needs. Adding to that, we provide our patients with psychosocial support. Also, offering evidence-based interventions like educational programs, stress management techniques, and supervised physical activity programs has been proven to lower rates of emergency department visits and hospital readmissions.

Looking Ahead

Archyde: Dr. Sharma, what do you see as the biggest opportunities and challenges in cancer survivorship care over the next decade?

Dr. Sharma: I see the biggest chance in personalization – tailoring care to each survivor’s individual risks and needs. The biggest challenge is ensuring equitable access to these resources, overcoming financial barriers, and improving the integration of care across various healthcare settings. another challenge is the need for more research to discover the right strategies for each case.

Archyde: Thank you, Dr.Sharma. This has been incredibly informative.

Reader Engagement

Archyde: What do you think the biggest barrier is to improving the lives of cancer survivors? Share your thoughts in the comments below.