Personalized care targets unique needs of survivors
CHICAGO, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Breast cancer. A diagnosis of
those two words elicits an array of emotions ranging from fear and anger, to
confusion and uncertainty. To cope, women often look to family, friends and
survivors for support, forming a network of people to help guide them through
their diagnosis and treatment. As treatment begins, the plan seems clear.
Separate stages of therapy are compartmentalized, helping the patient
understand each step, and all work towards one common goal - getting rid of
the cancer. Unfortunately, the process post-treatment is not as clear. While
relieved to be cancer-free, survivors are no longer coached by an army of
medical professionals and often find themselves feeling isolated, overwhelmed
and unsure of how to navigate their new role as a survivor.
To address the problem and target the unique physical and emotional challenges
breast cancer survivors face, physicians at Northwestern Memorial Hospital
have launched an innovative new program focused on survivorship, known as
SUCCEED.
The Breast Cancer Survivor Comprehensive Care, Empowerment and Education
(SUCCEED) program in the Lynn Sage Comprehensive Breast Center at Prentice
Women's Hospital provides Chicago-area survivors with personalized,
comprehensive care during and after cancer treatment. From day one, a
multidisciplinary team of health professionals, including physicians,
nutritionists, exercise therapists and psychologists, work together to treat
and support breast cancer survivors by addressing their unique needs, ranging
from hot flashes and osteoporosis, to depression and weight gain.
"Breast cancer survivors have unique needs as they embark on their
survivorship journey," says Vincent Cryns, M.D., director of the SUCCEED
program and an endocrinologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. "The goal of
SUCCEED is to empower and educate women to take an active role in making
important decisions that impact their overall health and well-being.
Nutrition, exercise and healthy living are key components of the program,
which we think every patient can easily adopt with a personalized plan."
The SUCCEED program provides two key elements to every patient - a treatment
summary outlining all aspects of her breast cancer, and a personalized care
plan that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of possible after-effects
associated with breast cancer therapy, as well as psychosocial and wellness
concerns, and strategies for healthy living. Together with their physicians,
patients then develop a survivorship care plan which provides a detailed
digest of the breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, follow-up appointments and
any specific testing or intervention that might be needed.
A 2005 Institute of Medicine report titled "From Cancer Patient to Cancer
Survivor: Lost in Transition," created an awareness of the gap in cancer care
models and opened the door for updated programs like SUCCEED that focus on
cancer survivorship.
"Within the last five years, healthcare providers have begun to address the
lack of post-treatment plans for breast cancer patients that exist in the
current health care system," adds Dr. Cryns, who is also associate professor
of medicine at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and a
breast cancer researcher at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center.
"Breast cancer survivorship programs are not intended to replace the care
women receive from their oncologists or primary care physicians, but rather to
complement their existing care and bring the pieces together. These women go
through cancer treatment for a relatively brief period of time, but they are
breast cancer survivors for the rest of their lives."
Open to all breast cancer survivors regardless of where treatment takes place,
the program is covered by insurance and dietary and exercise treatment is
provided free of charge thanks to philanthropy support from the Robert H.
Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University and other
sources. For more information about SUCCEED, visit www.succeedprogram.org.
About Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Northwestern Memorial Hospital is one of the country's premier academic
medical centers and is the primary teaching hospital of the Northwestern
University Feinberg School of Medicine. Along with its Prentice Women's
Hospital and Stone Institute of Psychiatry, the hospital comprises 873 beds,
1,603 affiliated physicians and 7,144 employees. Northwestern Memorial is
recognized for providing exemplary patient care and state-of-the art
advancements in the areas of cardiovascular care; women's health; oncology;
neurology and neurosurgery; solid organ and soft tissue transplants and
orthopaedics.
Northwestern Memorial possesses nursing Magnet Status, the nation's highest
recognition for patient care and nursing excellence, and it is listed in 11
clinical specialties in U.S. News & World Report's 2009 "America's Best
Hospitals" guide. For nine years running, it has been rated among the "100
Best Companies for Working Mothers" guide by Working Mother magazine. The
hospital is a recipient of the prestigious National Quality Health Care Award
and has been chosen by Chicagoans as the Consumer Choice according to the
National Research Corporation's annual survey for 11 years.
SOURCE Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Kimberly Arndt of Northwestern Memorial Hospital, +1-312-926-6503,
karndt@nmh.org
