A long with the good news of defeating cancer, survivors must deal with cardiopulmonary disease, bone loss, reproductive and hormonal changes, chronic pain, cognitive deficits, discrimination, family distress, and a host of issues related to treatment access and reimbursement. To better understand these challenges, an invitational symposium took place July 15 to 17 in Philadelphia, the State of the Science on Nursing Approaches to Managing Late and Long-Term Sequelae of Cancer and Cancer Treatment.

Sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, AJN, the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, and the American Cancer Society, the symposium convened 50 participants from around the United States and Canada, including nurses in clinical practice, research and education, representatives from major cancer centers and government agencies such as the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Public Health Service. Also in attendance were cancer survivors, social workers, journalists, and pharmaceutical industry representatives, all of whom came together to address the issues faced by long-term cancer survivorship.

Participants listened to a review of current research on the many late-appearing adverse effects with which long-term survivors have to contend. They then worked in groups to prioritize areas for further research and to identify barriers to effective care and how they might be overcome.

FIGURE. Mary McCabe, of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and Art Flatau, a cancer survivor, listen during group reports at the invitational symposium, held July 15-17 in Philadelphia.

FIGURE. (From left) Angela Cole, representing Sanofi-Aventis, Dianne Richardson of US Oncology, and Patricia Bradley of Villanova University College of Nursing collaborate during a small group work session.

The project was funded in part by grants from the AHRQ (1R13HS 16072-01), the American Cancer Society, the Lance Armstrong Foundation, and unrestricted grants from Sanofi-Aventis, Amgen, Novartis, Endo Pharmaceuticals, MGI Pharma, and Ortho Biotec Products, LP.

The full report on the project, which was led by former Oncology Nursing Society presidents P.J. Haylock, MA, RN, and Carol Curtiss, MS, RN, will be published as a supplement to AJN in March 2006 and will put forth the group's consensus recommendations for improving care. The collaborators hope to build on the work of this group by convening a second meeting next year.