Who Is Cancer Survivor?

A Cancer Survivor is an individual who had cancer and is now living a life with or after the treatment of cancer is over.

These may be individuals who after finishing their treatment have no signs of cancer, or they maybe those who are living with, through and beyond cancer.

The definition of cancer survivorship has evolved from a focus on three phases (the time from diagnosis to the end of initial treatment, the transition from treatment to extended survival, and long-term survival) to encompass a wide range of experiences and trajectories. For example, some individuals may live cancer free for the remainder of their life after initial treatment, while others may live with cancer as a chronic disease or experience recurrence or a subsequent cancer.

Surviving Cancer becomes a lifelong commitment and the patient need help with the problems they face, and for questions they have regarding their disease, emotional, social, legal, financial needs etc.

Cancer survivorship maybe considered to be of three types

• Acute Survivorship which begins with the diagnosis of cancer and goes on to the end of treatment
• Extended Survivorship starts with the end of treatment and include the months and years after treatment is completed. Some of these individuals maybe on some maintenance treatment for cancer
• Permanent Survivorship starts after years have passed since the end of treatment and when recurrence is less likely

Clearly when the problems patients face in each phase of survivorship is different and hence plans have to be made to help them through each phase. It is only when we follow the guidelines of Quality Cancer Care that we can ensure that the cancer patient is comfortable and receiving optimal care no matter which phase of survivorship he or she is in.