Lifespan of Survivorship: Impact Across the Cancer Continuum

New findings that address the best methods and strategies to improve cancer survivorship across the state will be presented at “Lifespan of Survivorship: Impact Across the Cancer Continuum,” the third annual summit of the Pennsylvania Cancer Control Consortium (PAC3).

The summit provides a one-of-a-kind forum for leaders in cancer care and research to share best practices that address the long-term survivorship issues confronting patients across the continuum of cancer care – including prevention, detection and treatment.

Among the presentations by PAC3 members, who represent more than 850 individuals from more than 250 organizations, are the results of community-based programs to improve the quality of life for cancer survivors around the state. Following are some highlights of the summit:

Live Strong

Haley Justice, national partnerships programs specialist from the Lance Armstrong Foundation, will be speaking on “Why Survivorship?” Her talk will address current statistics that indicate there are more than 9.8 million cancer survivors alive in the U.S. today. It is estimated that cancer affects one in three people in the U.S. and that 64 percent of all cancer survivors and 79 percent of childhood cancer survivors live at least five years after their diagnoses.

Lifespan of Survivorship: A Panel Discussion

Cancer experts will discuss how cancer treatment approaches have enabled patients to live longer and achieve better outcomes and what this means for cancer survivors. Among the issues they will discuss are the long-term effects of cancer treatment, risks for recurrent and secondary cancers, and the social, intellectual, psychological, reproductive and economic impacts on cancer survivors.

Interest in and Preferences for Physical Activity Among Lung Cancer Survivors

Although engaging in regular physical activity may offer benefits to lung cancer survivors, little is known about survivors’ interest in and preferences for physical activity. This project identified the extent to which lung cancer survivors engaged in physical activity and examined their preferences.

Keeping Life in Balance

Scott Burton, an award-winning comic and world champion juggler who has worked with Jay Leno and Louie Anderson, will discuss the role of humor in coping with cancer. A cancer survivor, Burton uses laughter, passion and humanity to empower both survivors and medical professionals and shows how these tools can open the door to not only healing, but to loving life.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health convened stakeholders from across the Commonwealth to write the Pennsylvania Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan, which was announced in 2004. This plan, developed for Pennsylvanians by Pennsylvanians, is a blueprint for all sectors to work together to meet the growing challenge of cancer control. This partnership of stakeholders, the Pennsylvania Cancer Control Consortium (PAC3), represents public, private and volunteer organizations across the Commonwealth dedicated to implementation of the plan’s cancer control priorities. In 2005, PAC3 filed for 501(c)(3) non-profit status. This summit provides an opportunity for PAC3 to report on the progress being made to reduce the human and economic burden of cancer in Pennsylvania.

For more information on Lifespan of Survivorship, visit www.pac3.org and click the summit announcement link at the bottom of the page.