Dr. Shapiro Discusses Survivorship Care

Charles L. Shapiro, MD, professor, College of Medicine, The James, Ohio State University Comprehensive Care Center, discusses survivorship care.

Shapiro says survivorship needs must be addressed. As an example, young women who receive chemotherapy for breast cancer go into early menopause, which has implications for bone health. Shapiro says the awareness by healthcare providers to inform women of the implications of their treatment could make a huge difference.

Both survivorship care plans and treatment summaries are extremely important. Survivorship care plans and treatment summaries seem to enhance the quality of life, but further research needs to be conducted in this area to determine the value of these programs, Shapiro says.