It’s Time to Redefine Survivorship

The old definition of cancer survivorship meant being cured. Now, as cancer treatment has advanced to help extend life and even manage cancer as a chronic condition, survivorship has evolved to mean empowerment – taking control of the rest of your life.

“For some people, survivorship starts when they receive a cancer diagnosis,” says Cassandra Smith, a nurse practitioner who leads Henry Ford Cancer’s Survivorship Clinic. “For others, it’s when they finish treatment. And many people say it’s when their scans are cancer-free, or when they diligently manage their cancer as a chronic disease.”

Regardless of when survivorship starts, the goal is always the same: Thrive and live longer. Survivorship may include a greater appreciation of life and more self-acceptance. Others may find it difficult to navigate anxiety about cancer recurrence, physical problems, work concerns and relationship issues.

To help manage emotional and physical stress, Cassandra encourages survivors to explore integrative medicine:

• Acupuncture and complementary therapies
• Fitness programs and rehabilitation therapy
• Nutrition plans and sleep hygiene
• Meditation and stress management
• Emotional and psychological support

On a deeper level, Cassandra says survivorship for patients – and even for their caregivers – might be defined as being given a second chance to live with greater purpose.

Roadmap for Survivorship Care

When cancer treatment ends, many patients may wonder, “Now what?” To ease the transition and create a new normal, Henry Ford Cancer Survivorship Clinic team prepares a survivorship care plan when a patient completes treatment.

The survivorship plan includes the patient’s care history of biopsies, diagnosis, treatments and side effects. It also outlines a schedule for follow-up visits, labs and imaging. Patients and their primary care physicians receive an electronic copy of the plan – a useful document for patients who travel or move.

“While meeting with patients to discuss the survivorship plan, we give them an opportunity to process some of the emotions that were sidelined during treatment,” Smith says.

“Often, people say they feel lighter after these conversations. If they need more time to talk, we offer referrals to a psych-oncology staff member or other resources and support services.”