'The more educated cancer survivors become about survivorship issues, the more empowered they will feel. And, learning to be a self-advocate can improve a cancer survivors overall quality of life.'

The report, "From Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor: Lost in Transition," concludes that there is no system of post-treatment care for cancer survivors in the United States and that people are suffering as a result.

Today there are more than 10 million people living with cancer, versus only 3 million in 1971. Cancer survivors are at a greater risk of recurrence or developing new cancers, often suffer side effects from their treatment, and may have emotional and social issues -- all of which require quality follow-up care.

"By exposing a glaring gap in care, this report provides cancer survivors, policy makers, federal agencies, healthcare professionals and advocacy groups like NCCS the evidence needed to effectively change and improve the quality of cancer care in the United States," says Ellen Stovall, a 33-year cancer survivor, co-editor of the IOM adult cancer survivorship report, and president and CEO of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS).

Survivors Urged to Self-Advocate

Among its recommendations, the report stresses that survivors need to play a bigger role in helping to change the existing healthcare system to better their own lives and the lives of survivors in the years to come.

Cancer survivors need to educate themselves about their disease, treatments and potential side effects in order to advocate for themselves, says NCCS. To gain more ownership of their health care, the advocacy group recommends that cancer survivors act upon the following measures:

1. Request a Cancer Care Summary and Survivorship Care Plan. Upon completing treatment, cancer survivors should request a formal consultation and ask their doctors for a Cancer Care Summary -- a summary of the diagnosis and treatment -- along with a Survivorship Care Plan, which is a plan for follow-up care after primary cancer treatment.

2. Become Familiar with Local Resources to Address Social and Emotional Issues. Many survivors face emotional stress, employment discrimination and inadequate access to health insurance. Local community organizations offer counseling and guidance to help cancer survivors overcome these obstacles. It is important to become familiar with these resources, so it will be easy to access them when help is needed.

3. Take Action. Being a proactive, educated self-advocate means feeling comfortable communicating post-treatment needs, in order to improve quality of life and ongoing healthcare. Beyond advocating for theirown care, cancer survivors can advocate for others in their local communities and at the federal level to ensure that all cancer survivors receive better quality care.

Efforts to Influence Policy

"We at NCCS believe that the more educated cancer survivors become about survivorship issues, the more empowered they will feel. And, learning to be a self-advocate can improve a cancer survivors overall quality of life," remarks Ellen Stovall.

To join NCCS's Cancer Advocacy Now! network in its efforts to influence policy at a federal level, visit http://www.canceradvocacynow.org.