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Assessment of the status of A National Action Plan for Cancer Survivorship in the USA

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Abstract

Purpose

There are currently more than 12 million cancer survivors in the USA. Survivors face many issues related to cancer and treatment that are outside the purview of the clinical care system. Therefore, understanding and providing for the evolving needs of cancer survivors offers challenges and opportunities for the public health system. In 2004, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Lance Armstrong Foundation, now the Livestrong Foundation, partnered with national cancer survivorship organizations to develop the National Action Plan for Cancer Survivorship (NAPCS). This plan outlines public health strategies to address the needs of cancer survivors. To date, no assessment of NAPCS strategies and their alignment with domestic cancer survivorship activities has been conducted.

Methods

The activities of five national organizations with organized public health agendas about cancer survivorship were assessed qualitatively during 2003–2007. Using the NAPCS as an organizing framework, interviews were conducted with key informants from all participating organizations. Interview responses were supplemented with relevant materials from informants and reviews of the organizations’ websites.

Results

Strategies associated with surveillance and applied research; communication, education, and training; and programs, policy, and infrastructure represent a large amount of the organizational efforts. However, there are gaps in research on preventive interventions, evaluation of implemented activities, and translation.

Conclusions

Numerous NAPCS strategies have been implemented. Future efforts of national cancer survivorship organizations should include rigorous evaluation of implemented activities, increased translation of research to practice, and assessment of dissemination efforts.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

The results of this descriptive assessment provide cancer survivors, cancer survivorship organizations, researchers, providers, and policy makers with initial information about cancer survivorship public health efforts in the USA. Additionally, results suggest areas in need of further attention and next steps in advancing the national cancer survivorship public health agenda.

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Acknowledgments

Lori A. Pollack is now with the Prevention and Response Branch, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, CDC. Anne Willis is now at the George Washington University Cancer Institute. Research for this publication was supported by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Contract number 200-2002-00575. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The authors gratefully acknowledge the contributions of Diane Blum for her thoughtful comments on project-related materials and her support for the project during her tenure at CancerCare and Pamela Goetz for her support of this project during her tenure as Director of Survivorship Programs at the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE, Mail Stop K-55, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA

    Judith Lee Smith, Lori A. Pollack, Juan L. Rodriguez, Nikki A. Hawkins, Ingrid J. Hall & Temeika L. Fairley

  2. Behavioral Research Center, Intramural Research Department, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Tenbroeck Smith

  3. Livestrong Foundation, Austin, TX, USA

    Ruth Rechis & Andy Miller

  4. National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, Silver Spring, MD, USA

    Anne Willis

  5. CancerCare, New York, NY, USA

    Helen Miller

  6. RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA

    Brenda Stone-Wiggins

  7. Prevention and Response Branch, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Lori A. Pollack

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  1. Judith Lee Smith
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  3. Juan L. Rodriguez
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  4. Nikki A. Hawkins
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Correspondence to Judith Lee Smith.

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Smith, J.L., Pollack, L.A., Rodriguez, J.L. et al. Assessment of the status of A National Action Plan for Cancer Survivorship in the USA. J Cancer Surviv 7, 425–438 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-013-0276-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-013-0276-8

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