Cancer Survivorship: Interprofessional, Patient-Centred Approaches to the Seasons of Survival

Cancer survivorship has become an increasingly important issue in the world of oncology care, as more people are living longer after a diagnosis than ever before. The American Cancer Society estimates that the number of cancer survivors in the United States will increase by more than four million by 2030. As higher numbers of survivors live past the five-year mark into extended survival, the oncology care community has become more aware of the pervasive long-term and late effects of cancer and its treatment. Survivors can experience a host of issues, such as cognitive dysfunction, reproductive and sexual problems, and cardiac disease, depending on the type of cancer and treatment modality. Unfortunately, gaps in survivorship care are common. Cancer Survivorship:: Interprofessional, Patient-Centered Approaches to the Seasons of Survival addresses many issues survivors may face at diagnosis, during treatment and recovery, throughout long-term survivorship, and at the end of life. This book provides information as it relates to these distinct phases of survival—first described by Dr. Fitzhugh Mullan, a cancer survivor and early survivorship advocate, in his seminal “Seasons of Survival” editorial. Most importantly, this book offers education to healthcare professionals so that they may help cancer survivors and their families achieve better quality of life.