Cancer Survivorship Symposium, January 15-16, San Francisco

Titled: Advancing Care and Research—A Primary Care and Oncology Collaboration, co-sponsored
by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the American College of Physicians, Inc.
(ACP), and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

Cancer Survivors require expert care that recognizes the possible long-term risks and toxicity of prior cancer. Optimal care of cancer survivors requires collaboration among providers, including oncologist, primary care physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses and other health care professionals.

The overall objective of this conference was the implementation of quality care for cancer survivors and the integration of survivorship care plans addressing the area of needs for patients completing treatment, how to communicate and coordinate care among providers, including oncologist, primary care physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses and other health care professionals.

Doctors work with patients to develop a care plan with focus on regular physician examinations and/or tests based on medical guidelines for diagnoses.

Follow-up Care includes watching for possible recurrence and managing long-term and late-term side effects. The most common visits include general physical exams and imaging studies.

Topics of discussions and abstracts included:

Neurocognitive deficits (chemo-brain) related to cancer therapies are particularly recognizable in the first year following treatment, but conditions (generally) improve within three to five years.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is nerve damage caused by chemotherapy. A study conducted on women (don’t know whether a similar study was conducted on men) revealed that CIPN occurs in 45% of female patients. There are currently no effective treatments, but rehabilitative exercise may preserve physical functioning.

A study with significant limitations concluded that a 14 day course of tart cherry juice appeared to improve peripheral neuropathy.

Ports and when to remove was another area of interest. Leaving a port in place for long periods of time may possibly have a negative psychological impact on patients. It also increases cancer related cost.

Physicians should be aware of the impact stress has on Diabetic patients and support patients in diabetes self-management.

Financial Toxicity and Cancer Care is a serious problem. After diagnoses out of pocket expense has increase; loss of income causes inability to meet monthly expenses and often times is followed by personal bankruptcy.

A customized mobile unit staffed with nurses, social workers, dietitians, exercise specialists and physician assistants provided cancer screening and surveillance, medical management of long-term side effects of treatment, treatment summary and care plans, dietary evaluations and healthy lifestyle education, psychosocial evaluations, care coordination and navigation to financial assistance, and assessments for balance, immobility, range of motion, and safe physical activity. This innovative survivorship model would be beneficial to the medically underserved survivors and not compromise quality of service.

Future fertility is a priority for nearly diagnosed adults however; although Fertility Preservation Services are increasing, few people use it. All newly diagnosed should be referred to reproductive specialists and consultations should include discussions of all available options.

Hugs,
Marion