Over one million Australians are living with or beyond their cancer diagnosis. This is due to advances in early detection, better treatments, and the ageing of the population. Cancer survivorship care refers to the time following active cancer treatments. This may also be known as post-treatment follow-up care. While many people go on to lead normal lives, there may be mixed emotions and worry about the future. For some it’s not always an easy transition and cancer can have a lasting impact including:
ongoing side effects of treatment
fear of cancer coming back
other physical, emotional, financial and social concerns.
The ACSC recognise ‘cancer survivors’ as people who have been diagnosed with cancer, from the time of diagnosis throughout their life. Cancer can also have a lasting impact on survivors’ family members, friends and caregivers.
Cancer care has traditionally focused on diagnosis and treatment. However, research shows it is just as important to focus on helping cancer survivors cope with life beyond their acute treatment. Cancer survivors may experience different issues compared to people having active treatment for cancer. It is important that survivors understand what to expect and are provided with the right information and support at the right time.
Quality cancer survivorship care should involve:
monitoring to detect cancer coming back and new cancers
support and monitoring for physical, emotional, social and practical effects of cancer and cancer treatment
management of any other health conditions
supporting and promoting wellness and healthy lifestyle
coordinated care between all health professionals involved
About the Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre (ACSC)
The ACSC is a passionate, multidisciplinary team with a vision to improve the health and wellbeing of cancer survivors and their carers. We work with cancer survivors, health professionals, community organisations, and policy makers. The ACSC does not offer clinical services. Instead, we work with healthcare providers to ensure that survivors receive the best possible care. We provide:
information and support to survivors and carers
education and training for health professionals
and cancer survivorship leadership and guidance
While we are based at Peter Mac and our primary focus is on Victoria, we also engage and contribute on a national and international level.
If you’re interested in learning more about the ACSC’s resources, events, education and work, we invite you to explore the links below:
The ACSC has a statewide role in the development of education and resources for both survivors and health professionals. We provide advice regarding models of care, and while research is not our primary focus, we strongly support and collaborate in research relevant to survivorship.
Our Strategic Plan 2020-2025 sets our priorities and objectives to support optimal outcomes for cancer survivors and their carers over the coming years. Current work of the ACSC addresses the six strategic priorities which include:
Provide information and support for survivors and carers
Provide survivorship education and training for health professionals
Support improved models of survivorship care
Conduct and support survivorship research
Provide leadership around cancer survivorship
Delivering a robust, collaborative and sustainable program
Launching mycareplan.org.au, a free survivorship care plan generator. Currently, this is for people treated with curative intent with a diagnosis of either early-stage breast, bowel or prostate cancer, early-stage melanoma, uterine (endometrial) cancer or Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (diffuse large B-cell).
Developing the Common Survivorship Issues Directory. This lists a range of common survivorship issues and links to information and support for survivors and guidance for health professionals.
Holistic care for cancer survivors, published in The Lancet’s 16 April 2022 edition. Prof Michael Jefford, Director of the ACSC, co-led the series, with Prof Jon Emery (University of Melbourne) and Dr Emily Tonorezos (Office of Cancer Survivorship, US National Cancer Institute). The three papers address common issues experienced by survivors, their clinical management, and the design of current and improved models of cancer care. The third paper focuses on issues and concerns for those who are survivors of cancer in childhood and adolescence. Dr Jeremy Lewin, Medical Director of Peter Mac’s ONTrac adolescent and young adult service, contributed to the third paper. Other Peter Mac contributors are Dr Karolina Lisy, Senior Research Fellow, ACSC and the Department of Health Services Research (DHSR), and Dr Julia Lai-Kwon, medical oncologist, and PhD student, DHSR.
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Mailing address
Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Locked Bag 1, A'Beckett St, Melbourne Victoria 8006
Prof Michael Jefford, Celebrating 10 years of ACSC (2010-2020)
ACSC Director, Prof Michael Jefford, shares about the ACSC, what we do and our team, in the following video.
Supporters
The ACSC would like to thank our supporters, collaborators, staff, volunteers and broader networks for all that you do to improve outcomes for people affected by cancer.
The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the Victorian Government proudly support the Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre.
