Offering Hope and Support Towards The Cancer Survivorship Journey

In observance of National Cancer Survivors Month in June, RadOnc on the Run host Brandon Mancini, MD, MBA, FACRO, invited Jeff White, director of PR & Strategic Communicationsat the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), to speak about his experiences as a survivor of cancer. From this conversation, both offered provider- and patient-level insights about supporting patients through diagnosis and treatment to eventual recovery and survivorship.

White began by detailing his initial diagnosis of HPV-positive tonsil cancer and his subsequent treatment course, which consisted of multiple steps involving surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Based on these treatment experiences, White and Mancini emphasized a need for greater patient education, support groups, and other resources to adequately prepare patients for what they may encounter in the clinic without overwhelming them with excessive information.

White and Mancini also discussed how each member of a multidisciplinary team can assist patients throughout their treatment schedules, touching upon roles such as managing pain between chemotherapy or radiation dosing. Additionally, the discussion addressed how to mitigate lingering symptoms and complications that extend beyond a patient’s treatment, such as anxiety surrounding follow-up scans and assessments.

When considering how cancer treatment has evolved over the last several years, White and Mancini’s conversation shed light on how providers could offer hope to patients and survivors alike.

“Cancer is a traumatizing word, and there’s just no way to get around that. But [when] connecting with physicians to find out what options are available—there are multiple paths that you can go down depending on your quality of life needs or where you are—I don’t consider it a death sentence,” White stated. “Survivorship has taught me that…[although] I always had an appreciation for my life, I did take it for granted. Focusing on the things that I truly care about [became] a priority in a way that it wasn’t before.”