Nicole Stout: Survivorship needs to be a system of care that walks alongside the patient throughout the entirety of their treatment and beyond

Nicole Stout, Research Assistant Professor at West Virginia University School of Medicine, shared the following post by Michael Jefford, Medical Oncologist and Director of the Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, on X, adding the following:

“Agree 110%
It sounds really good to say “survivorship starts at diagnosis” BUT
The field of oncology absolutely does not function in this manner.
The culture in our field does not reflect this as the prevailing paradigm.
Often heard at conferences or read in papers…”once the patient moves to survivorship…”
Survivorship needs to be a system of care that walks alongside the patient throughout the entirety of their treatment and beyond.
Were this paradigm to change, and ALL patients with cancer receive ongoing assessment of needs and supportive care throughout treatment, I believe it would go a long way to being more inclusive of those with advanced disease.
SURVIVORSHIP STARTS AT DIAGNOSIS”

Quoting Michael Jefford’s post:

“we need to re conceptualise ‘survivorship’ to better include people with treatable but not curable cancers – plus define standards / guidance”

Source: Nicole Stout/X and Michael Jefford/X
OncoDaily