It’s safe to say that every life, in some way, has been touched by cancer. If a person hasn’t been diagnosed themselves, they have a loved one, good friend, coworker, or neighbor who has been.
June is National Cancer Survivors Month, and there’s such promising news about cancer survivorship — it has increased across the decades, for a few reasons. What used to be an often fatal illness is now a condition that is frequently treatable, survivable, and in many instances, curable. We also see people living for years with cancer as a chronic disease that’s well-managed.
I know you’ll be encouraged to learn that, according to the National Cancer Institute, there are more than 18 million cancer survivors in the United States today — living their best lives. Every one of them has a unique story, but they all share certain traumatic similarities. The moment that they’ll remember forever when they heard the words “You have cancer.” The chaotic early days of meeting their care team, which often includes an oncologist, a surgeon, a radiologist, genetic counselors, pharmacists, phlebotomists, patient navigators, social workers, and more.
These dedicated, compassionate caregivers provide patients with everything from clinical expertise and detailed treatment plans to listening ears and heartfelt hugs — all of which every cancer patient needs.
Every cancer survivor also relies heavily on others who understand exactly what they’re going through — fellow survivors. Whether one meets them by chance or they’re a member of a cancer survivor support group, these connections are pivotal and let survivors know they’re not alone in their experience, that their feelings are valid, and that hope exists.
Why has cancer survivorship increased? There are several reasons.
Improvements in screening tests are one major factor that is contributing to increased survivorship. For example, lung cancer was a type of cancer that was often not detected until its later stages, when a person’s prognosis is poorer. Now, low-dose CT scans have been developed, which allows for the discovery of lung cancer at a much earlier stage.
The development of advanced treatments has also made a significant impact upon survivorship, whether that’s helping a person enter remission or a treatment that lengthens the length of time someone lives with cancer. Some examples of sophisticated treatments are immunotherapy — when a patient’s own immune system is recruited to uncover and fight cancer, targeted therapies, which strike specific genes, proteins, or tissue, and personalized medicine, where customized treatments are aimed at specific molecular or genetic aspects of a tumor.
In addition to preventive screenings like colonoscopies for colon cancer and mammograms for breast cancer, vaccines are playing a role in preventing cancer. One such vaccine is the HPV vaccine, which prevents the cervical and throat cancers, as well as others, that develop as a result of certain strains of the human papillomavirus.
Cancer prevention is also boosted when people make smart lifestyle choices, like eating a well-balanced diet, exercising regularly, and refraining from smoking.
A combination of all these components is contributing to our higher survival rates. We know that cancer treatment, whether it happened years ago or it’s ongoing, takes a traumatic mental and physical toll on survivors, so finding support is a vital part of healthy survivorship.
Cancer remains the second leading cause of death in the United States, behind only heart disease, so we must remain vigilant about getting screened for it, embracing a healthy lifestyle, and giving our support to organizations working to find a cure for cancer.
I am grateful to our Blue Ridge Regional Hospital (BRRH) team members who provide care with professionalism and sensitivity, including cancer screenings, as well as imaging and lab testing that help us monitor patients’ conditions. We also have an Infusion Center that administers chemotherapy after a patient has received their initial treatment from their oncologist, which ensures that they can tolerate it well. Every day, our caregivers are devoted to ensuring that we are all doing what we can to do our part in the fight against cancer.
Tonia W. Hale, DNP, MAOM, BSN, RN, is Chief Executive Officer and Chief Nursing Officer of Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine. Hale is a proven leader with almost 40 years of progressive healthcare experience. A native of East Tennessee, she holds an associate’s degree in nursing from Walters State Community College, a baccalaureate degree in nursing from the University of Tennessee, a master’s degree in organizational management from Tusculum University, and a doctor of nursing practice degree in executive leadership from East Tennessee State University. Ms. Hale is currently a resident of Burnsville.