Partnership funds four survivorship care plan projects

The Partnership is pleased to announce funding for survivorship care plan initiatives that will add to the knowledge base about the needs of cancer survivors as they transition out of primary cancer care.

The demonstration projects target people whose primary cancer treatment has ended in the last six months and are directed toward learning more about overcoming the barriers to implementing care plan approaches.

Young Adult Cancer Canada will be implementing web-based plans for people in the 15-39 age group. Wellspring, a Toronto-based community organization, is targeting patients diagnosed with many different types of cancer who are within six months of completing active treatment.

A team from CancerCare Manitoba is developing plans for people who have had rectal cancer. Alberta Health Services is joined by several partners from across the province to implement care plans for breast and head and neck cancer survivors. Work with these populations can serve as a model for other survivor groups.

The projects were selected through a competitive bidding process led by the National Survivorship Working Group of the Partnership’s Cancer Journey Action Group.

“The diversity of projects and program delivery groups reflected here will help advance our understanding of what works in supporting survivors,” said David Muise, Co-Chair of the National Survivorship Working Group.

“It’s important to try different approaches as we work toward creating sustainable plans that can be adapted to other jurisdictions and other types of cancers.”

The projects are expected to begin immediately and be completed by January 2011.