Survivorship
The Department of Health (DH) working with Macmillan Cancer Support, NHS Improvement and the National Cancer Survivorship Initiative (NCSI) published a ‘vision’ in January 2010 for improved care and support for people living with and beyond cancer.
The vision document outlined evidence which suggested that current follow up arrangements usually involving outpatient appointments at cancer centres, are not meeting either the medical or psychological needs of patients. The NCSI developed a set of principles to underpin support for patients living with and beyond cancer.
- Developing a personalised risk stratified pathway of care
- Support to self manage where appropriate after initial assessment and treatment
- Access to information and support including lifestyle advice
- Access to coordination of support for those with co-morbidities
- Planned transition from paediatric to young people to adult services
- New pathways of care supported by care coordination and remote surveillance systems as appropriate.
ASWCS
The Network responded to the NCSI initiative to test the principles as set out above and developed two projects as part of the national pilot sites, one on adult survivorship and the other on teenage and young adult survivorship.
Top 10 Tips for Cancer Survivors
The 10 Top Tips for Cancer Survivors have been created by a group of senior health professionals, funded by Macmillan Cancer Support & the Department of Health, working to improve the experience of people following cancer treatment. The 12 members of CCaT, who are all research-active nurses or allied health professionals, drew on their collective expertise to work out what concise, pragmatic advice they could give to cancer survivors. They then consulted several patients (groups and individuals in London, Sheffield, Southampton and Scotland),
GPs, cancer doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, Macmillan staff, and other people working to improve cancer care. Some of the services mentioned (e.g. end-of-treatment assessments and care plans) are not yet widespread across the NHS. However, if you ask for an assessment and a care plan, this may actually encourage health professionals to improve the care offered to cancer survivors.
Download the Top 10 Tips for Cancer Survivors here
Useful Documents & Websites
- National Cancer Survivorship Initiative (NCSI) Assessment and Care Planning Report Summary
- National Cancer Survivorship Initiative Evaluation of Adult Cancer Aftercare Services - Wave 1 Report
- Pseudomyxoma Survivor -The Pseudomyxoma Survivor website provides a support network for patients and carers of PMP. This is such a rare cancer, affecting an estimated 1 in a million people per year.