Cancer Survivors May Not Get Needed Care

[leftchick]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051107/ap_on_he_me/cancer_survivors

WASHINGTON - The nation's 10 million cancer survivors require customized follow-up for years that too few now receive, says a major study that calls for oncologists to create a "survivorship plan" to guide every patient's future health care.


Half of all men and one-third of women in the United States will develop cancer in their lifetimes. Thanks to advances in early detection and treatment, the number who survive has more than tripled over the past three decades.

When active treatment ends, these people's special needs may be just beginning, said the study, released Monday. Yet, the legacy of physical, psychological and social consequences has largely been ignored by doctors, researchers, even patient-advocacy groups, leaving survivors too often unaware of simmering health risks or struggling to manage them on their own, said the report by the Institute of Medicine.

"Successful cancer care doesn't end when patients walk out the door after completion of their initial treatments," said Dr. Sheldon Greenfield of the University of California, Irvine, who led the study for the institute, an arm of the National Academy of Sciences.

[LiberalinNC]

1. Step one is treatment, step two recovery, step three moving on, and

facing what comes next. Take it from me, as a 12 year cancer survivor, I know it's scary as hell when your done w/ treatment. You spend months seeing doctors, almost weekly, then when your done, your scared NOW WHAT?!?!?

"Survivors are at risk of their initial cancer returning or a new one forming, and may need not just screening to detect that but also help handling the inevitable fear.

Then there are the lingering health effects that various cancer treatments can cause: problems with mobility or memory, nerve damage, sexual dysfunction or infertility and impaired organ function. There may be distress over cosmetic changes. Other hurdles include keeping health insurance after that costly first cancer bout and discrimination from employers.""

[pecwae]

2. Been there twice now

Thought I had it licked two years ago, but the beast returned in September. Trying to take all four steps at once all over again.

[brentspeak]

3. Prayers to you. Hope all works out.

[LiberalinNC]

4. Good luck! Keep a positive attitude and I hope everything works out well!