WCPO: University of Cincinnati Cancer Center survivorship services connect patients to help after treatment

WCPO recently highlighted the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center's Survivorship & Supportive Services Program that connects survivors to the resources they need to thrive.

"It's taught me that I'm truly not alone," breast cancer survivor and program participant Sharen King told WCPO. "I didn't have the time to be afraid, I just knew I had to take care of me. I have nine nieces and nephews, and I'm Auntie."

Elizabeth Shaughnessy, MD, Cancer Center member, adjunct professor, vice chair for patient experience and division director of survivorship in the UC College of Medicine, said there are more than 18 million cancer survivors living in the United States currently, with that number expected to grow to 20 million by 2025.

"​It's a lot of people and with that comes a lot of baggage and we need to be able to address those medical problems going forward," Shaughnessy said.

The Survivorship & Supportive Services Program is open to patients at any health system who are in cancer remission and may be facing new challenges. Services include oncology primary care, physical, occupational and music therapy and mental health, fertility, sexual health and sleep resources to help people living with cancer get "back to normal" as much as possible.

Watch or read the WCPO story.

Featured photo at top of Breast Cancer Awareness Month ribbon. Photo/Lludmila Chernetska/iStock.