Cancer Survivorship in New Jersey

A survivor is anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer. Cancer survivorship starts at the time of diagnosis and continues throughout the patient’s life and has three distinct phases:

1. Living with cancer. This phase includes the experience of being diagnosed with cancer and beginning treatment to cure or alleviate symptoms.
   
   During this phase, patients undergo treatment (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy) based on their specific disease and condition.
   
   
2. Living through cancer. This phase is the period after treatment has ended. While patients are often comforted during this period, they are also anxious about what happens next.
   
   During this phase, patients see their oncologist two to four times a year. Patients need to remain connected with their nurse navigators and primary care physicians to maintain consistent monitoring of their overall health.
   
   
3. Living beyond cancer. This phase refers to post-treatment and long-term survivorship. While most survivors get back to the life they love, some experience emotional, financial and physical hardships.
   
   During this phase, most survivors go back to the care of their primary physician and do not need to see their oncologist on a regular basis.
   
   

Through our network, cancer survivors can work with their Survivorship Navigator to develop a survivorship care plan to maintain overall health and minimize the risk of recurrence and/or a secondary cancer.