Abstract
The cancer experience exists as a continuum, beginning with diagnosis and continuing through the phases of treatment toward long-term survival [1]. The term “cancer survivor” is used to describe any person diagnosed with cancer, including those currently fighting the disease or those who have become cancer-free. Treatments aim to remove all traces of the cancer from the body, prolong survival, and provide the highest possible quality of life. However, many survivors experience adverse long-term effects from the treatment, including physical and/or psychological symptoms. Supportive cancer care is designed to understand and treat these cancer-associated and cancer-induced symptoms to provide lasting physical and emotional well-being for survivors and their families at all stages of the illness [2]. Education, management, and continuous support are essential to reducing these adverse side effects of cancer and its treatments in order to enhance the quality of life for cancer patients and caregivers.
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Alberts, D., Lluria-Prevatt, M., Kha, S., Weihs, K. (2016). Introduction. In: Alberts, D., Lluria-Prevatt, M., Kha, S., Weihs, K. (eds) Supportive Cancer Care. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24814-1_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24814-1_1
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