Chapter 7: Survivorship
Supporting Cancer Survivors in a Lifelong Journey
Cancer survivorship is a lifelong journey that continues well beyond the end of treatment. Survivors and their caregivers—especially those from historically underserved communities—often face ongoing financial, emotional, and practical challenges. Addressing issues such as financial problems caused by the cost of medical care (financial toxicity), employment disruption, and difficulties navigating insurance is essential to easing long-term burdens.
While survivorship care has advanced, critical gaps remain. These include inconsistent tracking of care plan delivery, follow-up screenings, access to mental health services, and overall service utilization. Survivors from priority populations—including Latino, Black, Asian American, LGBTQ+, rural, adolescent and young adult (AYA), and older adult groups—often experience fragmented transitions in care. They may also lack access to culturally responsive services or face barriers related to language, transportation, and unstable insurance coverage.
Key Opportunities for Improvement:
- Strengthen community-clinical partnerships to improve navigation and connect survivors with resources.
- Promote tailored wellness programs that support nutrition, physical activity, and mental health—especially for those facing obesity, chronic conditions, or emotional distress.
- Enhance provider and patient education on survivorship care, coordination, and long-term risks.
- Integrate disaggregated survivorship data (by race, ethnicity, language, and SOGI) into electronic health records to drive equity, accountability, and quality improvement.
- Engage survivors, caregivers, and community leaders in designing and evaluating programs to ensure services are grounded in lived experience.
Special attention must also be given to childhood and adolescent and young adult (AYA) survivors—those diagnosed at an early age—who may face unique concerns such as infertility, fear of recurrence, and significant mental health challenges. These issues also affect survivors of all ages and backgrounds, underscoring the need for comprehensive, long-term support to help all survivors live longer, healthier lives.