What CDC Is Doing About Cancer Survivorship

As the number of cancer survivors grows, the public health community is considering ways to address the issues related to survivorship. CDC works with public, non-profit, and private partners to create and implement successful strategies to help the millions of people in the United States live with, through, and beyond cancer.

Partnerships

CDC supports the development and distribution of cancer survivorship materials and through funded partnerships. See information about current and past partnerships.

Research

Research by CDC scientists includes—

• Monitoring information about cancer survivors through national surveys such as the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, National Health Interview Survey, and Medical Panel Expenditure Survey.
• Analyzing data on barriers to receiving appropriate follow-up care, late and long-term effects of treatment, health behaviors, and psychosocial issues among various groups of cancer survivors.
• Evaluating the feasibility and acceptance of survivorship care plans and routine medical care for cancer survivors in various clinical settings.
• Using research findings to plan, implement, and evaluate cancer control strategies.

Programmatic Work

DCPC's cancer survivorship activities include—

• Helping states, tribal groups, territories, and Pacific Island jurisdictions address cancer survivorship through comprehensive cancer control initiatives.
• Supporting national organizations in the development, dissemination, and coordination of comprehensive cancer prevention, early detection, and survivorship activities in underserved populations.
• Through the National Cancer Survivorship Resource Center—
  • Supporting the development and distribution of a broad range of cancer survivorship informational materials, including clinical care guidance and provider education materials.
  • Promoting healthy behaviors to reduce late and long-term effects of cancer and its treatment.
  • Improving surveillance and screening practices to detect cancer recurrence.
• Funding organizations to improve the overall health and quality of life of young breast cancer survivors by—
  • Providing structured support services to young breast cancer survivors and their families.
  • Developing educational and awareness resources to increase patient and provider knowledge of health behaviors and risk reduction.

National Action Plan

In 2004, CDC's Division of Cancer Prevention and Control (DCPC) and The LIVESTRONG Foundation, along with nearly 100 experts in cancer survivorship and public health, released A National Action Plan for Cancer Survivorship: Advancing Public Health Strategies. This collaboration articulated goals, activities, and priorities to address the issues facing the growing number of cancer survivors in the United States.

DCPC has joined forces with national organizations, states, tribes, territories, and Pacific Island jurisdictions to address several of the cancer survivorship "priority needs" cited in the Action Plan. This work includes efforts to understand and improve care and quality of life for cancer patients, their family, friends, and caregivers, as well as developing initiatives to increase survivorship in low-income and medically underserved populations.

More Information

For more information, please read Addressing cancer survivorship through public health: An update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.