Priority 4: Survivorship

A cancer survivor is anyone who has ever had cancer, from diagnosis through the rest of their life. More and more people are surviving cancer due to earlier detection and improvements in cancer treatment, diagnosis, and follow-up care. In this distinct phase of care, supports must meet the needs of cancer survivors by focusing on health and wellness outcomes, and by promoting health system changes that produce comprehensive and equitable survivorship care through and beyond treatment.

Survivorship Goal: Provide equitable, accessible, and person-centered comprehensive care for people, including children, impacted by cancer by considering their emotional, cultural, physical, spiritual, financial, and social needs.

Objective 1: Increase the number of survivors who have received treatment summaries and survivorship care plans (SCPs), especially for priority populations, by 2029.

Objective 2: Increase the number of Commission on Cancer hospitals and oncology practices that provide access to inclusive community-based survivorship support services to reduce barriers to care by 2029.

Objective 3: Increase screening and support for mental health concerns for those impacted by cancer by 2029.

Objective 4: Identify and collate existing data sources that include Massachusetts-specific survivorship data to explore gaps in survivorship care and better address inequities related to survivor care by 2029.