Coordinated Care Needed for Cancer Survivors, Caregivers

TUESDAY, Nov. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There is an urgent need for coordinated, comprehensive, personalized care for cancer survivors and caregivers, according to a report published online Oct. 30 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

Catherine M. Alfano, Ph.D., from the American Cancer Society in Washington, D.C., and colleagues discussed the need for coordinated, comprehensive, personalized care for cancer survivors to meet survivors’ and caregivers’ needs while minimizing the impact of provider shortages and controlling costs.

Based on a review of the research, the authors created a set of critical priorities for care delivery, research, education, and policy to improve outcomes of survivors and provide support for caregivers. Three priority areas were identified: implementing routine assessment of the needs of survivors and caregivers; facilitating personalized, tailored information and referrals for survivors and caregivers; and disseminating and supporting the implementation of new methods of care and interventions.

“Our investment in new, better cancer treatments has been a literal lifesaver, with more survivors than ever living years beyond their original diagnosis,” Alfano said in a statement. “These survivors then must cope with new risks and ongoing symptoms, so failing to invest in efforts to address the long-term problems confronting survivors and their caregivers is unethical.”

Abstract/Full Text