QFI Jacquelin Lizbeth Galicia Solórzano | CIF Quality Manager
The diagnosis of cancer is a before and after in life, since it changes radically. The disease leaves physical, psychological, social, labor sequels, etc., that develop needs that are difficult to address and that are often not covered or how to manage it during and after treatment is unknown.
Specifically, ovarian cancer is a disease whose symptoms are not very specific, which makes timely diagnosis difficult, most cases are detected at an advanced stage and 70% of cases present chemoresistance and/or recurrence This causes patients with this disease to have severe episodes of stress and depression, which affect not only their quality of life but also adherence to treatment and the development of unhealthy habits; which generates a greater progression of the disease and sometimes reduces the survival rate.
There is a perception that cancer means death, but today it is possible to change that perception because life after a diagnosis of this pathology can be active, productive, rewarding and inspiring. This is thanks to the different existing treatments, an early diagnosis, to the research centers dedicated to the search for new therapeutic strategies, to the clinical units and hospitals with comprehensive services specialized in providing the care required to attend to the diagnosis.
Currently, the cancer survivor population is growing. According to Anderson Madrid (2020), since the 1980s, cancer survivors and doctors have tried to describe the stages that cancer survivors normally go through. Most break them down into three stages:
- Acute survival (living with cancer): During this time, patients will undergo treatment and may be invited to participate in a clinical trial to study new cancer treatments.
- Extended survival (pass cancer): Post-treatment period during which the risk of recurrence is relatively high. Therefore, it is recommended that patients normally go to the oncologist two to four times a year, depending on their circumstances.
- Lifelong survival (living after cancer): Survival after treatment and long-term. During this stage, most survivors return to the care of their primary care physician. Ideally, you should have a long-term follow-up plan with your oncologist for your regular doctor to implement.
It is possible that we will hear “long survivors”, this stage refers to those cured patients who are no longer receiving treatment and at least a period of five years has elapsed since diagnosis.
A positive indicator, triggering the several decades focused on the search for cancer treatments, is the challenge of helping survivors to achieve an adequate quality of life during and after the completion of treatment, both in the physical, social, labor, psychological and emotional in a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary way.
Wendy Landier (2009), focusing on understanding and improving health outcomes in cancer survivors, recommends survivor care plans with the following approaches:
- Rehabilitation that optimizes the health potential of the survivor.
- Surveillance of relapse for early detection.
- Early intervention of complications related to cancer and its treatment.
- Health promotion in order to reduce the risk of developing comorbidities or second neoplasms.
- Intervention for the socioeconomic consequences of cancer and its treatment.
- Normalization of access to work or school.
Living life with a history of cancer is unique to each person and loved ones who have lived with cancer. However, there is a common denominator for most of them: life is different after cancer.
Cancer Survivor’s Day becomes extremely important as it is the result of the synergy between scientific and social character. This day is very important and different from the others because of the magnificent example that the survivors give us, with their great courage and appreciation for life; they allow us to reflect on everything that makes life possible and allow us to look at it with pride, gratitude and empathy.
At the Pharmacological Research Center (CIF) we offer our great appreciation and admiration to the Survivors and also to the people who fought, but unfortunately are no longer with us. Perhaps resignation is difficult because of the appreciable memories and the shared knowledge that we have left, with which we must always be grateful and with great joy, embrace the example to follow. Let us appreciate life and give thanks for all those opportunities provided, the protagonists of the Cancer Survivor Memorial Day are a great example of how valuable second chances are.
REFERENCES
Landier, W (2009). Survivorship Care: Essential Components and Models of Delivery. Oncology (Williston Park, NY), p. 46-53.
MD Anderson Madrid (2020). MD Anderson Cancer Center Madrid, Stages of cancer survival,https://mdanderson.es/el-cancer/vivir-con-el-cancer/estapas-de-survivencia-en-el-cancer
