Hope Ranch Challenge

Facts: Based on figures from the Center of Disease Control “Cancer Survivor Report 2001”, there are over 9.8 million people in the U.S. currently living with Cancer. This represents 3.5% of the U.S. population in 2001.

A national health objective for 2010 is to increase to 70% the proportion of cancer patients who are living 5 years or greater after diagnosis. If successful, this will mean that by 2010, nearly 15 million people will be living with or after cancer in the U.S.

The anticipated rise in the numbers above are due to several factors. First, early detection and treatment has made some forms of cancer a “curable” disease and a “chronic” disease for others. Persons with diagnoses of cancer are increasingly described as “cancer survivors” rather than “cancer victims”. In addition, advances in earlier diagnosis, more effective treatment, prevention of secondary disease and cancer recurrence and decreases in mortality from other causes have added to the increase of cancer survivor numbers. Public health initiatives typically have addressed the early detection and prevention of cancer and advances in technology and medicines have added to survivorship rates.

That’s the good news.

The Challenge: The growing number

of people living with cancer poses challenges for researchers to understand the physical, psychosocial, and economic effects of surviving cancer and for public health practitioners to develop evidence-based programs to promote the health and well

being of cancer survivors and their families well AFTER treatment is over. Public health organizations and their partners have recognized this upcoming challenge and are developing programs to support survivors and their families across the continuum of cancer treatment, health promotion and survival.

Policymakers are faced with a huge task to follow-up with these survivors. They need to be educated about economic concerns that strike families with this disease. A myriad of other issues like employment and insurance discrimination can come into play. Loss of income for caregivers, psychological assistance, increased family stress, etc. are all part of the survivorship experience. Although steady gains are being made in early diagnosis, treatment regimens, and overall treatments…much work remains to meet the needs of these patients in the years after their “treatment” stops.