Cancer Survivors Need Follow-up Care

Cancer Survivors Need Follow-up Care

A study conducted by the National Academy of Sciences urges for improved post-cancer care for the millions of cancer survivors in the nation.

It has been estimated that half of the men and one-third of the women in United States will develop cancer sometime during their lives. But due to medical advancement, more and more patients are surviving cancer.

“There are now 10 million Americans who have had cancer. Thanks to successes in cancer detection and treatment, as well as an aging population, their ranks are growing steadily,” said Dr. Sheldon Greenfield who led the study that brought to light the discrepancies in post-cancer care. The study conducted by a panel of 17 experts pointed out that most cancer survivors live under a constant fear of recurrence and struggle to deal with the side effects. This is due to complete lack of a follow-up plan.

Sponsors

The study urges cancer specialists to provide a comprehensive written follow-up plan for the care of cancer survivors. This plan can be very useful for primary care doctors not only to detect recurrence of cancer but also to prevent other conditions that the patients might develop. Dr. Greenfield expressed his concern over the lack of any such arrangements "there is no organized system to link oncology care to primary care."

Patients who have undergone various treatments for like chemotherapy and radiotherapy run a risk of developing other ailments like infertility, cardiac disorders and even other cancers. Many cancer survivors also develop psychological conditions like depression and anxiety. Cancer survivors therefore need utmost care and medical attention.

Most health insurance plans do not cover post-cancer care. So much so that insurance companies refuse to provide health insurance to those who have had a history of cancer. The study emphasized the need of corrective measures on the part of both insurance providers and cancer specialists.