The term "cancer survivors" refers to those people who have been diagnosed with cancer and the people in their lives who are affected by the diagnosis, including family members, friends and caregivers. Survivors face numerous physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and financial issues at diagnosis, during treatment and for the remaining years of their lives. Many of these issues are only recently being addressed through coordinated health initiatives.
There is a National Action Plan led by The Centers for Disease Control and the Lance Armstrong Foundation that charts a course for how the health community can more effectively and comprehensively address cancer survivorship and focus on improving the quality of life for survivors. To complement this plan, Lawrence Hospital Center has launched its own survivorship program that addresses needs locally.
Goals of the program are:
- Preventing secondary cancers and recurrence of cancer whenever possible.
- Promoting appropriate disease management following diagnosis and treatment to ensure the maximum number of years of healthy life for cancer survivors.
- Minimizing preventable pain, disability, and psychosocial distress for those living with, through, and beyond cancer.
- Assisting cancer survivors in accessing family, peer, community support, and other resources they need to cope with their disease.
Lawrence Hospital Center is in the forefront of addressing survivorship issues. If you would like to attend a Cancer Survivorship Support Group meeting or would like more information about this program, call 914-787-4115. This program is supported by the Westchester Community Foundation.