Research project: National Cancer Survivorship Initiative: supporting self management of cancer survivors: summary of the evidence - Dormant - Dormant
Cancer for some is a chronic condition with more people surviving many years beyond diagnosis. Research commissioned by Macmillan estimates that the number of people living with or beyond cancer in the UK currently stands at two million and is rising by more than 3% a year[1]. There is significant impact on the lives of people who have had cancer e.g. as a consequence of the treatments they have had. There is evidence that people want to know how to manage these consequences for themselves and that there could be considerable health benefits for them if they were supported in doing this. Currently there is very little support for people who have completed treatment for cancer. Most have no long term follow up and for those that have it, follow up is based on assessing recurrence rather than on the health and support needs of the individual. There is increasing evidence to suggest that people who are engaged and informed about how to manage their own health needs may achieve the best health and quality of life.