More people live after a cancer diagnosis than ever, thanks to more effective treatments and earlier screenings. Nearly 18 million people in the United States are cancer survivors – that’s more than 5% of the population. But even after the cancer is not detected, these survivors and their families face long-term needs – including medical, emotional and financial challenges.
Supportive oncology programs assist with these needs. Atrium Health Levine Cancer has one of the few formal supportive oncology programs in the country, and it’s dedicated to caring for survivors and their families, from the day of diagnosis through long-term survivorship. These oncologists collaborate with primary care providers, integrating long-term cancer care into the patient’s regular medical care.
“Many patients with cancer have other conditions, too. They may see a primary care provider for diabetes or high blood pressure,” says Dr. Declan Walsh, chair of the Department of Supportive Oncology at Atrium Health Levine Cancer. “But they still need someone with expert knowledge of cancer care to be part of their ongoing care. This partnership between supportive oncology and primary care gives them the first-rate care they need.”
One Foot in the Community, One in the Hospital
Primary care providers may refer patients to the Department of Supportive Oncology at Levine Cancer, which has a presence in more than 25 facilities around the Charlotte region. Or the oncologist can collaborate with the primary care provider to integrate supportive cancer care into the patient’s primary care appointments.
“Supportive oncology has one foot in the community and one foot in the hospital,” Walsh says. “We have a whole menu of services that are there to support patients through an incredibly complex and stressful time.”
A close partnership between supportive oncologists and primary care providers gives cancer survivors individualized care – which may include pain management, screening recommendations or psychological support – based on their type of cancer and treatment plan. If a patient who had chemotherapy or radiation therapy faces a higher risk of heart disease due to the treatment, the provider will know they regular heart monitoring information. If a patient has an increased risk of cancer recurrence, the oncologist can recommend that the provider create a screening schedule. If a patient deals with long-term neuropathy or pain from treatments, supportive oncology can offer the provider ways to offer pain relief.
Nutrition and physical fitness counseling are other important parts of supportive oncology. Both have been shown to increase the quality of survivors’ physical and mental health.
Some integrative oncology groups are targeted to specific cancers, such as EMPOWER, which supports people between 18 and 55 with colon cancer. As more young adults are getting diagnosed with colon cancer, EMPOWER offers support specific to their diagnosis and life stage, including peer-led support groups and fertility preservation. EMPOWER is one of few programs of its kind in the country.
Adi Melendez is a program participant. Melendez was diagnosed with stage two colon cancer in November.
“I was with my husband, and I just started crying because you’re 34. You would never think. I don’t have any history,” Melendez said.
Melendez is an office coordinator at Atrium Health One Health. She says having doctors that listened to her and being proactive helped her catch the cancer. She had surgery in December and is currently on her third round of chemo.
While doing her best to remain positive for herself, and her 8-year-old daughter, Melendez says it is difficult staying optimistic.
“You think about, ‘oh, what if it’s cancer?’ but what if it is? And [if] it is, and you have to take care of that, and [if] you postpone it, then when you go it’s too late," Melendez said.
“Cancer care doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Sometimes you need transportation, a nutritionist, psychological counseling, pain management,” says Dr. Mohamed Salem, a gastrointestinal medical oncologist at Levine Cancer Institute who leads EMPOWER. “We created a program that would empower people to be in control of the cancer and not let the cancer control the patient’s life.”
Caring for Caregivers
Cancer affects more than the patient, so supportive oncology services are available to caregivers and families, too. Primary care providers can refer patients and families to nurse navigators, who can connect them with resources beyond the doctor’s office. This may consist of emotional services, such as support groups, psychological support, music or art therapy. It may also include a consultation with a social worker who can assist with financial questions and connect patients and families to financial resources in the hospital or the community.
“There’s a whole menu of services to support patients and families who are going through what can be an incredibly complex and stressful time,” Walsh says. “There's no expense involved for supportive oncology. It's a service provided by Atrium Health Levine Cancer because we recognize that patients and their families need that type of support.
The services have become very popular at Atrium Health Levine Cancer. Walsh hopes that more survivors and their families reach out to discover what services may be helpful to them and how they can be integrated in the care they already receive.
“We want patients and their families to feel empowered to reach out to us if they have a need or challenge,” Walsh says. “Supportive oncology is not just about cancer or medical care. It's about providing exceptional, whole-person care for the patient and their family.”
Learn more about supportive oncology at Atrium Health Levine Cancer.
