Cancer Survivorship Program
Survivorship begins at the time of cancer diagnosis. Our goal is to ensure your whole health is considered by working to minimize the negative consequences of cancer and cancer treatments.
Surviving cancer takes a determined effort, but you don’t have to do it alone. The UI Health Survivorship Program provides patients with the resources they need to help them continue living a full life during and after their cancer care.
What Is Survivorship?
According the National Cancer Institute:
“An individual is considered a cancer survivor from the time of diagnosis, through the balance of his or her life. Family members, friends, and caregivers are also impacted by the survivorship experience and are therefore included in this definition.”
Often when people speak of survivorship care, they are referring to the time after completion of active cancer treatment. While this is the most common time for cancer patients to engage with cancer survivorship programs, at UI Health we want to let people know it is never too early to start Survivorship Care.
Who can receive Survivorship care?
Anyone with a cancer diagnosis – whether just diagnosed, recently completed treatment, on active maintenance therapy, or someone who completed treatment years ago can receive survivorship care.
What is our goal?
Our goal is to coordinate care between the cancer specialist and primary care physician to ensure that all aspects of a cancer survivor’s health are being met. Since everyone is different, we personalize care to meet each person’s unique needs.
Why do I or my loved one need Survivorship Care?
Patients who go through cancer treatment face various challenges that can make their life difficult. One major difficulty that patients may face is fragmentation of care, which refers to a lack of care and resource coordination that can negatively impact a patient’s quality, cost, and outcomes.
Some other challenges include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Changes in energy level
- Decrease in physical function
- Uncertainty about future health risks
- Financial stress
- Treatment-related side effects that can impact overall health and quality of life
The Survivorship Clinic offers:
- Screening for recurrent and new cancers
In addition to your regular health maintenance we want to make sure you are getting any additional screening needed as a result of your cancer and cancer treatments - Monitoring for late effects of cancer and cancer treatments including medical and psychosocial effects
- Interventions for the consequences of cancer and its treatment
Whether it’s through medication, specialty referral, therapy, or other supportive care services - Coordinating care between your cancer physicians and primary care provider
To help ensure every part of your healthcare needs are being met.
And if you don’t have a primary care physician, we will help you find one within the UI Health network.
Deborah Manst, MD, MPH
Oncogeneralist Cancer Services
Meet Your Physician
Dr. Deborah Manst is part of the Cancer Survivorship Program at UI Health. Dr. Manst provides comprehensive clinical care to cancer survivors and participates in various research projects at the University of Illinois Cancer Center. She has a background in public health and preventive medicine, and she has a specific interest in cancer prevention through the identification of gene mutations that elevate cancer risks.
Not a cancer patient through UI Health?
Any adult diagnosed with cancer regardless of where they received their cancer care can be seen.
Contact Us
Cancer Survivorship
UI Health Mile Square Health Center – Main
1220 S. Wood St.
Chicago, IL 60608
Directions
To request an appointment call 312.996.2000
