According to the CDC, more than 9,100 people in Maine are diagnosed with cancer annually. With advances in early detection and treatment, many people are living longer lives and entering a phase known as survivorship. June is Cancer Survivorship month, a time to highlight the importance of ensuring patients find their way back to wellness after cancer treatment. The Northern Light Cancer Care Survivorship Program provides guidance and support during cancer recovery, bridging the gap between oncology treatment and primary care.
“As patients transition into survivorship, their unique healthcare needs are best supported by a team familiar with the cancer treatment journey,” explains Sarah Sinclair, DO, oncologist/hematologist, medical director, Northern Light Cancer Care. “Patients with cancer confront specific health challenges related to the rigorous toll the disease and treatment take on the body. This program focuses on helping patients identify and meet their healthcare needs to enjoy a higher quality of life during and after cancer treatment.”
At Northern Light Cancer Care in Brewer, a provider and a nurse navigator team guide patients in survivorship by sharing expertise and resources while working closely with the oncology group. Patients may need help with exercise, nutrition, cancer screenings, prevention, therapies, social services, and community resources. The Survivorship Program staff formulates individualized plans and refers patients to services to help them thrive.
Cancer survivorship programs are considered a best practice by the American College of Surgeons and Northern Light Cancer Care in Brewer embraced this standard in recent years, contributing to its continued accreditation by the ACS, a quality designation held since 1960.
Patients can ask for a referral to the Survivorship Program through their oncology care team. For questions about the program, please call 207-973-6910.
