Muna Al-Khaifi, Lead of Breast Cancer Survivorship Program and GP oncologist, Skin Cancer Clinic at Sunnybrook, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Rethinking Cancer Survivorship: Strengthening Community Partnerships
As someone who works closely with breast cancer survivors, I’ve seen how their needs continue long after treatment ends. Many survivors have low to moderate survivorship needs – such as managing fatigue, emotional well-being, sexual health, or lifestyle changes – which can often be supported effectively through collaboration with community partners.
Rather than centering all survivorship care within hospital settings, there is an opportunity to expand and strengthen survivorship care beyond specialized clinics or hospital walls, making it more accessible and meaningful for every survivor.
We already have excellent community partners, providing valuable programs such as exercise and wellness initiatives, educational webinars, outreach, and peer-support activities. Such programs reflect what many survivors need most: connection, empowerment, and care that extends beyond treatment.
It’s now time to strengthen these collaborations at a systemic level, fostering closer partnerships between hospitals, community organizations, and primary care teams. Survivors should also be more aware of these programs, ensuring that care is not only available – but truly accessible.
Expanding survivorship care in this way creates a more connected, person-centered, and sustainable model that better supports every individual living beyond cancer.
Survivorship doesn’t end when treatment does – it continues through community, compassion, and collaboration.”
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