Support for Cancer Survivors at Every Stage
For patients with cancer, the end of active treatment is
the beginning of the next phase of care, and can be a
time of uncertainty. To help with this transition, the
Marie Yeager Cancer Center has introduced a new
program designed especially for cancer survivors.
At their first follow-up appointment after completing
treatment, patients meet with their oncologist to discuss
a survivorship care plan. The plan outlines a summary
of care in one document, with details on any additional
resources or referrals a patient might need, such as
treatment with an occupational therapist or counseling
with a cancer psychologist.
The cancer survivorship care plan is provided to patients and their entire care team, including primary care
physicians who can access it electronically and
monitor patients’ follow-up care.
“Patients can easily take this information with them
anywhere they go, whether they have an unexpected trip to the emergency department or are on vacation outside the area,” said Edmund Paloyan, MD, Medical Director of Oncology Services, Lakeland Health. “By providing this resource for survivors, we can enhance communication across the entire continuum of care—at diagnosis, during treatment, and beyond.”
The survivorship care plan is currently available for patients with breast cancer and early-stage lung cancer, and will
later be introduced to patients diagnosed with other
forms of cancer. To learn more about resources
available at the Marie Yeager Cancer Center, visit www.lakelandhealth.org/cancer.