Cancer survivorship for people with treatable but not curable cancers

There is a growing population of people living with ‘treatable but not curable’ cancer.

For some, this may be from the time of diagnosis, while for others, it may be when their cancer progresses or comes back after treatment. It also includes those living with advanced or metastatic cancers.

Treatment may be given to control the disease, manage symptoms, and maximise quality of life for as long as possible. Treatment may be ongoing and last for months or years.

A cancer survivor refers to anyone living with or beyond a cancer diagnosis, including those living with treatable but not curable cancers. Survivorship care focuses on supporting cancer survivors’ health and wellbeing and meeting their care needs, and also considers the needs of families and carers.

Survivorship needs

People living with treatable but not curable cancer have unique needs, different from people with early stage, curable disease. Their disease course may vary, with periods of disease stability, progression and potentially further treatment. Each survivor will have distinct experiences and goals of care. It is possible that treatment will shift unexpectedly to end of life care. The uncertainty of the future, knowing that at some point cancer will recur or progress, significantly impacts on their health and wellbeing. They may be impacted more than other survivors by the physical, psychological and emotional effects of cancer and utilise healthcare services more frequently. The financial impacts of cancer may persist due to ongoing care needs, and psychosocial impacts may be significant and require regular assessment and intervention.

Family members also face challenges as they take on additional responsibilities to support their loved one. Their needs may also be unmet due to their caregiving role.

Figure 1 - National Cancer Institute³ - phases of cancer survivorship.

Due to the unpredictable nature of living with advanced or metastatic cancer, multidisciplinary and interprofessional supportive care approaches may be needed. Timely involvement of palliative care can assist with symptom management, discussions regarding prognosis and goals of care, and may lead to longer survival. Integrating advance care planning into survivorship care for people with treatable but not curable cancer can promote autonomy, optimise care and enhance quality of life.

Despite the challenges, with the right support and care, many people, living with treatable but not curable cancer can maintain a good quality of life, find purpose, and continue to live well for extended periods.

The resources below are available for patients and carers and healthcare professionals in a variety of formats. Those provided here are general, for cancer specific resources visit Peter Mac’s Community support organisations, or Cancer Australia’s cancer support organisations page.

The Common Survivorship Issues Directory contains valuable information and resources relating to the common issues experienced by people living with treatable but not curable cancers. Issues include pain, sleep issues, anxiety and depression, and financial toxicity. It also contains specific resources for carers, family and friends.