Ernest Rosenbaum - Everyones Guide to Cancer Survivorship: A Road Map for Better Health

PART I
A Physician Guidance Program

PART II
A Survivors Road Map to Health and Longevity

PART III
Ways to Improve Lifestyle and Quality of Life

PART IV
Survival with Disease Prevention and Control

PART V
Survival with Side Effect Control

PART VI
Improved Survival with Creative Expression

Sandra J. Horning, M.D.,
Immediate Past President,
American Society of Clinical Oncology

Cancer survivors have increased in number more than threefold over the last thirty years to the current level of 10 million and growing. Among patients diagnosed in 2006, nearly two thirds are expected to survive five or more years. With these burgeoning survivor numbers, a growing body of data on the side effects of treatment, and increased professional and public awareness, a guide to cancer survivorship is a welcome and timely resource. Using the latest data from multiple sources, including a recent Institute of Medicine report on adult survivorship, Dr. Rosenbaum and the co-editors of Everyones Guide to Cancer Survivorship have combined their expertise to empower survivors with the knowledge and self-determination to promote health and quality of life after a cancer diagnosis.

Current success in cancer treatment may be attributed to the expertise of multidisciplinary healthcare providers precisely executing a complex plan based on clinical research. Yet after a period of orchestrated and frequent interaction with healthcare professionals, the end of treatment may be marked by patient anxiety and uncertainty because of the lack of an ongoing plan for cancer survivorship. Appropriately, this significant volume begins with a program to help physicians coordinate and provide comprehensive survivor care and continues with a wealth of resources for patients, covering the major areas for optimal survivorship. The topics include a road map to health and longevity, ways to improve lifestyle, disease prevention and control, side effect control, and improved survival through creative expression. With this guide, cancer survivors can take proactive steps to promote their total well-being with practical advice on diet, exercise, and further prevention.

As a cancer survivor and an oncologist, I deeply appreciate the supportive and positive tone in this guide and its comprehensiveness. This volume for survivors complements efforts of professional societies such as the American Society of Clinical Oncology to include survivorship issues in training curricula, provide ongoing education to practicing healthcare providers, and encourage scientific inquiry in the health and social outcomes of survivors.

An entire generation of cancer survivors has unmet needs that are addressed in Everyones Guide to Cancer Survivorship. Dr. Rosenbaum, his co-editors, and the distinguished contributors are to be congratulated for this valued resource.

Ernest H. Rosenbaum, David Spiegel, Patricia Fobair, and Holly Gautier

Over the last twenty-five years, a large series of papers with evidence-based research have shown that by adopting a healthier lifestyle, including a prudent diet, exercise, smoking cessation, and limited alcohol intake, and by following a disease surveillance and preventive program, cancer survivors can live longer, reduce the risk of recurrence of breast, prostate, and colon cancers, and help prevent the occurrence of a new cancer.

This book, Everyones Guide to Cancer Survivorship, is written for both survivors and health professionals, some of whom are cancer survivors, too. Our goal is to provide you with a survivors road map so you will meet the fewest possible obstacles while going through diagnosis, therapy, and posttherapy survivorship. The ideas, strategies, and solutions offered here are intended to help prevent or reduce many of the toxic side effects of treatment, and offer a survivor plan for follow-up care. With this practical cancer healthcare guide, your journey through cancer care can be easier and safer.