Survivorship

An ESMO-ECPC guide for patients in collaboration with IPOS



Survivorship is a unique and ongoing experience, which is different for each person and those close to them. A key to survivorship is to regain, as far as possible, the important aspects of your life before cancer, and to find new pathways to a satisfactory life going forward. This Patient Guide on Survivorship is created by European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC) in collaboration with International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) in order to help you and people like you at this important time in your life. In this guide you can find information on support in coping with the new reality, life after initial treatment, preventive health, and follow-up care. It also enables keeping a personal health record / survivorship care planning.


Download the Guide (PDF) →


Patient Forums and Support Groups in Cancer

Administration on Aging, Department of Health and Human Services:
Information for older persons, families, practitioners, researchers, students, and the aging network.
https://www.acl.gov/programs

American Cancer Society:
Dedicated to helping persons who face cancer. Supports research, patient services, early detection, treatment and education.
http://www.cancer.org/

American Urological Association:
Written material, access to about 400 national support groups, no physician referrals.
http://www.auanet.org

Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer (AECC) Junior / Spanish Cancer Society Junior:
A resource in Spanish for pediatric cancer patients and their families.
http://www.aeccjunior.org – Only in Spanish/Sólo en español

Bone and Cancer Foundation:
Information for patients and families on the causes and treatment of cancer involving bone.
http://www.boneandcancerfoundation.org

Breast Cancer Network of Strength:
Written materials; access to support groups nationwide; will provide list of specialists in Chicago area. Lists of breast- cancer facilities nationwide.
http://www.networkofstrength.org

Canadian Virtual Hospice:
Information and support on palliative and end-of-life care, loss and grief.
http://www.virtualhospice.ca

Cancer Care, Inc:
Written material, telephone support groups and counseling; will locate other community services in patient area.
http://www.cancercare.org

Cancer Index:
International list of support groups. Also offers links to resources listed by country.
http://www.cancerindex.org/clinks6a.htm

Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation:
Written materials, over 400 peer support groups, and contacts for all family members nationwide.
http://www.candle.org

Caregiver Network:
Canadian-based, bulletin board, links, and support for caregivers.
http://www.caregiver.on.ca

Caregiver Survival Resources:
Caregiving resources.
http://caregiver911.com

CaringBridge:
Free, easy-to-create websites to help connect friends and family for support during a health crisis or recovery.
http://www.caringbridge.org

FEFOC (Fundación para la Educación Pública y la Formación en Cáncer):
A Spanish resource for the public and patients regarding many different cancer topics. Most of the websites are in Spanish, but FEFOC expects to have all of the translated to English as well in the near future.

Healing Journey:
Featuring a downloadable workbook on coping with cancer, a weekly live chat and other resources.
http://www.healingjourney.ca

Homehealth:
E-mail [email protected]. In the body, type, “subscribe HOMEHLTH (your name).”
Contact:
Phil Kemelor, TEL:
(301) 816-8950 x418

Home Care Nurse:
E-mail [email protected]. In the body of the message, type, “subscribe HCARENURS (your e-mail address).” Contact:
Liz Madigan, [email protected]

I’m Too Young For This! Cancer Foundation For Young Adults:
A TIME Magazine Best 50 Website 2007, the I’m Too Young For This! Cancer Foundation For Young Adults is a global support community for young adults affected by cancer who get busy living and rock on. Our mission is to end isolation and improve quality of life by providing one-stop access to hard to find resources, peer support and social networks.
http://i2y.com

Imerman Angels:
Matches a person touched by cancer with a mentor of similar experience to ask personal questions and receive support from someone who is uniquely familiar with the experience.
http://www.imermanangels.org/

International Confederation of Childhood Cancer Parent Organisations (ICCCPO):
Bringing together information about parent organisations around the world, and providing links to sites which contain information of value for parents and their families.
http://www.icccpo.org

LIVESTRONG:
The Lance Armstrong Foundation unites, inspires and empowers people affected by cancer.
http://www.livestrong.org/

Living Beyond Breast Cancer:
Helpline and a wide variety of breast-cancer related information.
http://www.lbbc.org

Lung Cancer Centre:
Lung Cancer Center is here to provide the information and resources you need to understand the diagnosis. Are you a patient, loved one, caregiver, or even just a student? Learn more about what a lung cancer diagnosis is and the best way to fight it medically and legally.
https://www.lungcancercenter.com/

MAHAK:
MAHAK is an organization involved nationally (Iran) and internationally in cancer of children and offers services in the fields of Welfare, Medical treatment & Research. In the section of welfare, MAHAK supports the children suffering from cancer and their families in full. Treatment of children with cancer is performed according to the latest methods and based on the last medical know how. In the field of research, the organization engages itself to learn more on diagnostic and preventative measures as well as treatment of different types of cancer.
http://mahak.org

Malecare:
For five years, this nonprofit group has been providing men’s cancer support and psychosocial programs free and open to the public, and serves as a proven critical resource to men and their families world wide. Their website contains two hundred pages of helpful prostate cancer information, including dozens of pages in English, Spanish, French, Italian and Hebrew.
http://www.malecare.com

Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance
Provides a range of information that talks about Mesothelioma cancer itself, the types of treatment that is expected, and preventative measures. Since mesothelioma is a rare cancer, they put a big focus on the care a patient needs.
http://www.mesothelioma.com/mesothelioma/

Mesothelioma Fund
Helping victims and their families get assistance with medical treatment and travel costs.
https://www.mesotheliomafund.com/

Mesothelioma Guide:
Our mission is to guide mesothelioma patients toward answers, information, and healthcare solutions.
http://www.mesotheliomaguide.com/community/support/

Mesothelioma + Asbestos Awareness Center
An educational resource for patients and caregivers looking to learn more about mesothelioma such as cancer care, treatment, and community support.
https://www.maacenter.org/

Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com
provides free informational books, packets and a Patient Advocacy program that works 1-on-1 with individuals to help them find local doctors, treatment centers and support groups.
http://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/

Mesothelioma Help Now
Our main focus is to provide accurate and helpful information, support and resources to patients and their loved one. We want to help them better understand their diagnosis, how to find treatment, and all options available to them.
MesotheliomaHelpNow.com

Mesothelioma Lawyer Center
For over 20 years we’ve been helping families like yours connect with leading mesothelioma lawyers. There are many law firms that handle mesothelioma and asbestos cases. Choosing the right law firm for your family can be overwhelming. We clear through the confusion and help you connect with only the top lawyers nearest to you.  https://www.mesotheliomalawyercenter.org/about-us/

Mesothelioma Treatment Community
Mesothelioma Treatment Community presented on TreatMesothelioma.org is dedicated to assisting, guiding, and helping mesothelioma patients from around the world. The key focus for them is to promote palliative and immediate care because they exist to not only inspire hope during these unbearable times but to also provide the information needed to improve the life expenctancy of the patient. TreatMesothelioma.org has compiled over 120 pages of resources, infographs, articles, and educational videos so that you can learn everything you need to know about mesothelioma cancer. If by chance you need a bit more guidance, they have a team of volunteers ready to answer any questions you may have. TreatMesothelioma.org is also the largest online resource for mesothelioma treatment options and alternative/complementary therapies. Be earning this title, they are designed to help guide patients and their loved ones toward the answers and support they need to improve their mesothelioma prognosis, life expectancy, and equally important… their quality of life. 
https://www.treatmesothelioma.org/mesothelioma/

Mesothelioma Veterans Center
The Mesothelioma Veterans Center provides information about treatment, clinical trials, and VA benefits to veterans suffering from asbestos-related illnesses. We’ve had the honor of helping hundreds of veterans pursue compensation after developing mesothelioma or asbestos-related lung cancer from their asbestos exposure in the military.
https://www.mesotheliomaveterans.org/about/

NewMouth
Types of Oral Cancer and Treatment Options. All content published on NewMouth is created by a team of journalists, researchers, and those experienced in the medical writing industry. All pages and topics on the website are fact-based and sourced from current scientific research, such as scholarly articles, dentistry textbooks, government agencies, and medical journals. This includes information provided by the American Dental Association (ADA), the American Association of Orthodontics (AAO), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).  The website offers completely free information, education, and resources to all of our website visitors.
https://www.newmouth.com/oral-health/conditions-diseases/oral-cancer/

Pleural Mesothelioma Information
Learn about the most common form of mesothelioma cancer, affecting the lining of the lungs. And get financial support and treatment assistance if you or a loved one have been diagnosed.
https://mesothelioma.net/pleural-mesothelioma/

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Families facing pediatric cancer need a resource they can trust. The site provides in-depth medical information and practical and social/emotional support topics. Visitors will also find stories and videos from patients, survivors and families.
together.stjude.org

The Park Ridge Center:
The Center’s bulletin focusing on spirituality in health care.
http://www.parkridgecenter.org/Page675.html

The Prostate Cancer Foundation:
Goal is to find better treatments and a cure for recurrent prostate cancer. Provides funding for cutting-edge prostate cancer research and works with research scientists, physicians, government officials and biopharmaceutical industry executives to remove barriers that impede progress toward a cure. Advocates for greater awareness of prostate cancer and more governmental resources for fighting the disease.
http://www.prostatecancerfoundation.org

Voicing My Choices:
This end-of-life planning guide for adolescents and young adults is now available online.
http://www.agingwithdignity.org/voicing-my-choices.php

Pain Management and Policy in Oncology

Agency for Health Care Policy and Research:
Lists various resources on pain and cancer pain.
http://www.ahcpr.gov

American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM):
Collection and reporting of clinical outcomes information.
http://www.painmed.org/

American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute:
Questions and answers about pain control.
http://www.cancer.org

American College of Physicians:
Download the book “Home Care Guide for Advanced Cancer:
When Quality of Life is the Primary Goal of Care.” For family, friends, and hospice workers caring for persons with advanced cancer at home.
http://www.acponline.org

American Pain Society:
Calendar, database of archived APS Bulletin articles, and resources for patients and professionals.
http://www.ampainsoc.org

American Society of Clinical Oncology:
Connects site visitors to information and to each other.
http://www.asco.org

Association of Cancer Online Resources:
Online resources for cancer patients, caregivers, health professionals, and basic research scientists.
http://www.acor.org

Cancer Net:
Wide range of accurate, credible cancer information from the National Cancer Institute.
http://cancernet.nci.nih.gov/

City of Hope Pain and Palliative Care Resource Center:
Clearinghouse of information & resources on improving the quality of pain management.
http://prc.coh.org

The International Association for the Study of Pain:
Dictionary of pain terminology and curriculum outline on the study of pain in medical schools.
http://www.iasp-pain.org

Institute for the Study of Health and Illness:
Information on various programs for health professionals working with people with life-threatening illnesses.
http://www.commonwealhealth.org/

The Journal of Clinical Oncology:
http://www.jcojournal.org

Lindesmith Center:
Drug policy research institute:
Searchable online library
http://www.lindesmith.org/library/

MSKWeb:
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center’s Web Site:
provides a wide range of information for medical professionals, patients, their families, and the general public.
http://www.mskcc.org

NCI:
Cancer statistics, disease information, and abstracts from National Cancer Institute.
http://www.cancer.gov

OncoLink, The University of Pennsylvania Cancer Resource:
Fast access by disease, specialty, etiology; current clinical trials, and more.
http://www.oncolink.com

Pediatric Pain Research Lab:
Affiliated with Dalhouise University:
Provides professional, research, and self-help resources related to children in pain.
http://pediatric-pain.ca/

PDQ:
NCI’s comprehensive cancer database, extensive register of ongoing and closed clinical trials.
http://www.cancer.gov/

Pain & Policy Studies Group:
All state intractable-pain-treatment laws, regulations, and state medical board guidelines.
http://painpolicy.wisc.edu

Resource Center for State Cancer Pain Initiative:
Provides an advocacy network for cancer pain.
http://trc.wisc.edu/

Roxane Pain Institute:
Educational materials on cancer and AIDS pain management. Downloadable pain slide show, dates of lectures/seminars, and links to patient and professional “libraries.”
http://www.Roxane.com

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation:
Written material about 30 support groups nationwide.
http://www.Komen.com

Talarian Map-Cancer Pain:
AHCPR Clinical Practice for Cancer Pain:
http://www.painresearch.utah.edu/cancerpain/guidelineF.html


Hospice and Palliative Care

ABCD Exchange:
Link to editors and on-line newsletter.
http://www.abcd-caring.org/newsletter.htm

American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine:
Events & meetings, products & publications, related links.
http://www.aahpm.org/

Approaching Death:
Improving Care at the End of Life:
IOM Committee and publication information.
Click here for report

The Association for Death Education and Counseling:
Educational resources, programs, links, publications, etc.
http://www.adec.org

Children’s Hospice International:
Includes a resource directory for hospice programs around the world.
http://www.chionline.org/

Compassion and Choices:
Information related to living wills, etc.
http://www.compassionandchoices.org/

Cochrane Collaboration:
Reviews of research evidence about the effects of health care. Offered in seven languages.
http://www.cochrane.org/

Compassion in Dying:
Resources, news, support materials, legal advocacy, affiliates etc.
http://www.CompassionInDying.org

Dying Well:
Resources for patients and families facing life-limiting illness.
http://www.dyingwell.com/

Growth House:
Monthly guide to Best of the Net sites for life-threatening illness and bereavement.
http://www.growthhouse.org

Hospice Foundation of America:
Information about hospices and hospice care.
http://www.hospicefoundation.org/

International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care:
Featuring an International directory of hospice and palliative care services, a book and video shop, and more.
http://www.hospicecare.com

Last Acts:
Focus is improving end-of-life care. Provides links, electronic newsletter, online discussion, and more.
http://www.lastacts.org

National Association for Home Care:
Programs and publications, newsletter, and related links.
http://www.nahc.org

National Conference of State Legislatures:
Links to legislation related to end-of-life issues in states.
http://www.ncsl.org/

Open Society Institute:
International Palliative Care Initiative:
Project information, funding initiatives, newsletter, media and publications, and related links.
http://www.soros.org/initiatives/health/focus/ipci

The Palliative Medicine Program:
Provides a variety of information and educational materials about pain management and palliative care.
http://www.mcw.edu/pallmed

The Recovery Village:
Dedicated to helping those struggling with substance abuse into recovery. We understand the unique responsibilities of caregivers and how their selfless role can be both rewarding and stressful, causing some to turn to various forms of substance abuse to cope; we believe education can help prevent this. Our new resource outlines the mental effects of caregiving, the signs and consequences of substance abuse, and how to get help if they are using substances to cope.
https://www.therecoveryvillage.com

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation:
Home page providing grant application and outcome information, library, programs and projects, media, link to Last Acts.
http://www.rwjf.org

Shaare Zedek Cancer Pain and Palliative Care Reference Database:
Public service provided in conjuction with Roxane Laboratories and The Roxane Institute. Searchable database of references related to cancer pain and palliative care.
http://kp-hadassah.org.il/chernydb/search.asp


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