Roundtable to Discuss Cancer Survivorship
A common understanding of the issues and implications of followup care to cancer survivors is the goal of a one-day roundtable meeting on cancer survivorship hosted by Cancer Care Nova Scotia.
The June 1 discussion will include family doctors, oncologists, nurses, social workers, health administrators, patients and families, cancer-related organizations and others from across the province.
"With 28,000 cancer survivors in Nova Scotia, now more than ever, we need to understand what survivors' care and support needs are and how health providers and the community can best serve these needs," said Theresa Marie Underhill, chief operating officer, Cancer Care Nova Scotia. "The number of survivors is growing as treatments improve and cancers are detected earlier. How do we achieve the same successful outcomes and quality cancer care in the survivorship phase of their lives?
"The transition from patient to survivor and the ongoing quality of care for survivors is the focus of the roundtable. With the growing number of cancer survivors in Nova Scotia, it is critical to plan and act."
Among the most pressing survivorship issues is how best to provide follow-up care. Areas include periodic routine appointments, necessary screening to guard against recurrence and new cancers, monitoring for side effects of earlier treatments and psychosocial support.
"Patients have told me that they feel at their most anxious after they have finished their treatment and not during treatment, as you might expect," said Dr. Eva Grunfeld, director, Cancer Outcomes Research, Cancer Care Nova Scotia who is the keynote speaker for the roundtable.
"While patients are undergoing treatment, they have confidence they are being monitored by a knowledgeable health professional. However, finishing treatment puts them in a grey area, without the necessary supports to help them manage their fears and answer their questions."
In addition to the keynote address, Cancer Survivorship: Issues for Cancer Care and Cancer Control, and small-group discussions, there will also be a moderated panel discussion. Participants include: Dr. Rob Rutledge, radiation oncologist; Dr. Mike MacKenzie, family physician; Steve Webster, cancer survivor; and Annette Penney, pediatric nurse co-ordinator for long-term followup care.
Cancer Care Nova Scotia is a program of the Department of Health, created to reduce the burden of cancer on individuals, families and the health-care system through prevention, screening, education and research.