CN22 - Survivorship care in melanoma cancer survivors

Background

Survivorship care provides numerous benefits for oncology survivors; however, resources and programing are not routinely implemented in clinical practice. The increasing population of cancer survivors presents the need for improvement in patient centered continuity of care. The Melanoma Survivorship Program aims to improve the experience and outcomes for melanoma survivors who have completed treatment. The goal is to aid patients' transition from the acute phase of treatment to living with a chronic condition while maintaining or improving quality of life.

Methods

Patients submit a survey to evaluate the long term emotional, physical, and financial effects of cancer and cancer therapy. They then meet with a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and a Social Worker to formulate an individual care plan. The survivorship program utilizes referrals to an interdisciplinary care team including cardiovascular health, exercise, nutrition, sexual health and intimacy, psychosocial care, and financial support. Additionally, they provide connection with patients’ primary care provider for continuity of care.

Results

This poster provides a recommendation for NPs to promote survivorship referrals in clinical practice. Data was produced through analysis and reporting on the effectiveness of survivorship programs in randomized control trials as part of a systematic review. Protocols providing access to comprehensive survivorship care in previous studies were examined and used to measure the effectiveness of survivorship programs in addressing patient quality of life. Findings support the recommendation of survivorship programs and interventions, specifically those studies which utilized and adapted the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Survivorship Assessment and the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire.

Conclusions

All forms of interventions were equally beneficial and largely dependent on patient goals. Therefore, NPs should encourage patients to engage in aspects of survivorship care that reflect their priorities. Additional research is needed to assess if survivorship care as described in this poster is effective at improving quality of life among melanoma cancer survivors long term.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

The authors.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.