A multi-disciplinary model of survivorship care following definitive chemoradiation for anal cancer

BMC Cancer. 2019 Sep 11;19(1):906. doi: 10.1186/s12885-019-6053-y.

Abstract

Following definitive chemoradiation for anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC), patients face a variety of chronic issues including: bowel dysfunction, accelerated bone loss, sexual dysfunction, and psychosocial distress. The increasing incidence of this disease, high cure rates, and significant long-term sequelae warrant increased focus on optimal survivorship care following definitive chemoradiation. In order to establish our survivorship care model for ASCC patients, a multi-disciplinary team of experts performed a comprehensive literature review and summarized best practices for the multi-disciplinary management of this unique patient population. We reviewed principle domains of our survivorship approach: (1) management of chronic toxicities; (2) sexual health; (3) HIV management in affected patients; (4) psychosocial wellbeing; and (5) surveillance for disease recurrence and survivorship care delivery. We provide recommendations for the optimization of survivorship care for ASCC patients can through a multi-disciplinary approach that supports physical and psychological wellness.

Keywords: Anal cancer; Surveillance; Survivorship; Toxicity.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anus Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Anus Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Anus Neoplasms / etiology
  • Anus Neoplasms / therapy
  • Chemoradiotherapy / adverse effects
  • Chemoradiotherapy / methods
  • Disease Management
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Male
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Patient Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Public Health Surveillance
  • Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / etiology
  • Sexual Health
  • Survivorship*