The National Cancer Institute estimates that 16.9 million people nationwide live with cancer. Those with a history of cancer are sometimes called “cancer survivors.” Survivorship has two common meanings: having no signs of cancer after treatment, or living with, through or beyond cancer.
The goal of survivorship is focused on helping every person with cancer live the life they want to the best of their ability.
A survivorship care plan coordinates all medical providers involved in the treatment journey and identifies sources of spiritual, emotional and mental health support for patients with cancer and their families.
New Standards of Survivorship Care
In 2020, the American College of Surgeon’s Commission on Cancer (CoC) revised its standards of care to improve the support patients receive from clinical teams systemwide. These standards have been put into effect and were updated in February 2023. They include:
- Financial support services
- Formalized referrals to experts in cardiology, pulmonary services, sexual dysfunction and fertility counseling
- Nutritional services
- Psychological support and psychiatric services
- Rehabilitation services
- Screening for new cancers and cancer reoccurrence
- Seminars for patients
Survivorship During Cancer Treatment
The University of Maryland Medical System recognizes three phases of survivorship during cancer treatment:
- Acute survivorship. This support phase begins at diagnosis and lasts through treatment. The focus is on participating in active treatment and learning to live with cancer.
- Extended survivorship. This support phase begins directly after treatment ends. The focus is on treatment recovery and screening for cancer recurrence.
- Permanent survivorship. This support phase begins in the years after treatment ends. The focus is on managing long-term cancer recovery.
The Benefits of a Survivorship Care Plan
A survivorship care plan is a record of a patient’s entire cancer treatment journey, including checkups, follow-up testing and all medical providers.
The CoC requires accredited programs, such as those found at University of Maryland Medical System member hospitals, to provide each patient with this plan. For patients receiving cancer treatment from an oncology team, the plan helps with care coordination across providers. Once active treatment ends, a patient frequently requires follow-up care and screenings to maintain health. The plan helps a patient’s cancer treatment team and primary care providers work together to provide comprehensive care.
An important part of cancer treatment is emotional and mental health support. A cancer diagnosis is a life-changing event for a patient and their loved ones. The American Cancer Society refers to the “psychosocial” effects of cancer as the physical, social, emotional and spiritual aspects of a treatment journey.
Psychosocial problems during treatment may include:
- Changes in the family function
- Feeling isolated from friends and family
- Fear of death or the cancer returning
- Financial stress around treatment or loss of work
- Grief
- Problems working or returning to work
- Trouble coping with life changes caused by cancer and its treatment
Emotional support is a normal part of a patient’s cancer journey. Each patient’s experience is different, and building a support network is important for managing the psychosocial effects of cancer treatment. Survivorship can be a critical part of developing that support.
How Seeking Cancer Support Can Help
Many cancer survivors report that connecting with others with similar experiences helps them feel more hopeful and less alone. Some studies show that people who join cancer support groups have a better quality of life and even a higher chance of survival. Not only do support groups allow you to talk through your feelings with people who understand, but they can also give you an opportunity to get practical advice, such as how to deal with treatment side effects.
How to Find the Right Cancer Support Group
You can find information about support groups in your area by searching the internet for “cancer support groups near me” or searching the National Cancer Institute database.
Some support groups encompass all kinds of cancer, while others focus on just one kind, such as breast cancer support groups. There are also groups geared toward people of certain ages or cultures, as well as those specifically for family members of people with cancer. You might also find a mix of in-person, online and telephone support groups.
Choose a group or two that seem right for you. If you attend and decide it isn’t what you had hoped for, try others until you find a good fit.
The University of Maryland Medical System offers cancer support groups at several hospital locations. Meetings are in-person and virtual and cover a variety of cancer types. More information is available online:
- Cancer Support Services at UM Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center in downtown Baltimore
- Cancer Care at UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center in Anne Arundel County
- Cancer Wellness & Support at UM St. Joseph Medical Center in Baltimore County
- Cancer LifeNet Support Services at UM Upper Chesapeake Health in Harford County
- Supporting Cancer Survivorship at UM Shore Regional Health on the Eastern Shore
The University of Maryland Medical System also offers rehabilitation services for those who need them.
Cancer Care, a national organization outside of UMMS, offers free, online support groups for patients with cancer.
Survivorship Resources
Survivorship offers several ways for patients to receive support at each stage of their cancer treatment journey. A cancer diagnosis creates changes for the patient, their family and caretakers.
The cancer care team at UMMS includes doctors, surgeons, nurses, social workers and many others who provide individualized treatment for every patient.
The following survivorship resources are available at UMMS:
- Survivorship Care Plans and Their Benefits from UM Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center in downtown Baltimore
- Survivorship Program and UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center in Anne Arundel County
- Patient and Family Resources at UM St. Joseph Medical Center in Baltimore County
- Cancer LifeNet Support Groups at UM Upper Chesapeake Health in Harford County
- Supporting Cancer Survivorship at UM Shore Regional Health on the Eastern Shore
The Center for Disease Control also provides resources for developing a survivorship care plan. The American Cancer Society maintains the National Cancer Survivorship Resource Center for patients, health care providers and caretakers specifically focused on survivorship.
More to Read
- Sharing Your Cancer Diagnosis
- How Exercise Helps Breast Cancer Prevention and Recovery
- Coping with Cancer Recurrence
- Coming Back from Chemo Brain
Medically reviewed by Patricia (‘Patty’) Plaskon, PhD, LCSW-C, OSW-C, APHSW-C, Outpatient Oncology Social Work Coordinator, UM Shore Regional Cancer Program
