The SUCCEED program provides two key elements to every patient - a treatment summary outlining all aspects of her breast cancer, and a personalized care plan that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of possible after-effects associated with breast cancer therapy, as well as psychosocial and wellness concerns, and strategies for healthy living. Together with their physicians, patients then develop a survivorship care plan which provides a detailed digest of the breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, follow-up appointments and any specific testing or intervention that might be needed.

A 2005 Institute of Medicine report titled "From Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor: Lost in Transition," created an awareness of the gap in cancer care models and opened the door for updated programs like SUCCEED that focus on cancer survivorship.

"Within the last five years, healthcare providers have begun to address the lack of post-treatment plans for breast cancer patients that exist in the current health care system," adds Dr. Cryns, who is also associate professor of medicine at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and a breast cancer researcher at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center. "Breast cancer survivorship programs are not intended to replace the care women receive from their oncologists or primary care physicians, but rather to complement their existing care and bring the pieces together. These women go through cancer treatment for a relatively brief period of time, but they are breast cancer survivors for the rest of their lives."

Open to all breast cancer survivors regardless of where treatment takes place, the program is covered by insurance and dietary and exercise treatment is provided free of charge thanks to philanthropy support from the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University and other sources.

SOURCE Northwestern Memorial Hospital