Navigating the Cancer Survivorship Journey

Overview

Cancer survivorship care is an essential component of oncology practice that focuses on monitoring recurrence, managing long-term treatment effects, coordinating multidisciplinary follow-up, and supporting patients after active cancer treatment ends.

Statistics for Cancer Survivorship

According to the American Cancer Society, as of January 2025 it is estimated that there are 18.6 million people living with a history of cancer in the United States. This number is projected to exceed 22 million by 2035.

Factors Considered in Survivorship

Successfully navigating diagnosis and treatment is the first phase of patient survivorship. After patients are finished with treatment, their care, surveillance, and follow-up are very important to take into consideration. Some factors that are taken into consideration are related to prevention and detection of recurrence and new cancers, and addressing remaining side effects of treatment, symptoms, and chronic conditions. Patients may experience physical and/or psychosocial issues, and care needs to be coordinated across many different healthcare providers.

Sources of Cancer Survivorship Information

Some groups that develop information on survivorship are: American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), the NCI Office of Cancer Survivorship (OCS), and European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO).

Important Topics of Interest for Healthcare Providers

Key topics of interest for healthcare providers include: how to transition from active treatment to survivorship; understanding the components of a survivorship care plan; recognizing what is required for and the schedule for post-immunotherapy follow-up such as imaging and lab tests; how to manage chronic immune-related toxicities; and which specialists should be involved and how to coordinate care.

In addition, it is important for healthcare providers to be able to set expectations with patients after active treatment ends, to address fear of recurrence, and to manage delayed immune-related adverse events and chronic conditions following treatment.