Life after cancer: Transforming the post-treatment experience
Helping people manage the lasting physical challenges of cancer
When cancer treatment is over, many physical symptoms and side effects can persist — from prolonged fatigue and trouble sleeping to changes in sexual function and fertility.
While in treatment, people living with cancer are regularly asked about their physical concerns. But once they leave the cancer system, they are often left to cope with symptoms on their own, particularly if they do not have a regular primary care provider. For those in rural or remote areas, getting access to post-treatment care can be challenging.
To help people living with cancer manage their physical challenges, the Partnership has supported programs in two key areas:
If the handoff from the cancer system to primary care is smooth, people are more likely to get the support they need after they leave treatment. Across Canada, organizations are working to equip primary care providers with the tools and resources they need to offer better care to people living with cancer.
Cancer treatment can affect fertility. Decisions about fertility preservation often need to be made quickly, but will affect a person for the rest of their life. Work is happening to ensure healthcare providers are having fertility discussions with people living with cancer and referring them to appropriate fertility specialists.
- Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. Living with cancer: A report on the cancer experience [Internet]. The Partnership; 2018 [cited 2024 Jan 25]. Available from: https://dev.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/topics/living-with-cancer-report-patient-experience.