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Objectives | Current Activities | Accomplishments |
Resources |
Co-Chairs
Teresa Steiner, Elliot Hospital
Barbara Kimball of Nashua Regional Cancer Center
Because cancer treatment changes rapidly and is increasingly complex, careful attention is required to ensure that New
Hampshire residents continually have access to current approaches to care. Generally, it is through clini¬cal research trials
that advancements and improvements in cancer treatment occur. By enrolling in a clinical trial, cancer survivors may be some of
the first patients to benefit from a new cancer treatment while contributing to cancer research. New Hampshire
residents have access to clinical trials at many of the state’s cancer centers.
Still, it is important to stress that cancer treatment involves more than the acute disease process; the short- and long-term
effects of cancer and cancer treatment on the patient (and his or her caregivers) must be considered. As the number of cancer
survivors in New Hampshire increases (according to the 2008 BRFSS, 8.6% of New Hampshire adults 18 and older have ever been told
they have cancer), more services will be needed to treat the physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and financial issues faced
by cancer survivors.
The treatment and survivorship work group aims to stay up-to-date with all the exciting and innovative approaches to address
survivorship issues in New Hampshire. These approaches include patient navigation programs, cancer follow-up care plans, and
survivorship resource directories.
Nonetheless, it remains important for the treatment process to also include the discussion of advanced-care directives before a
directive is needed.
Four objectives have been identified to guide treatment and survivorship activities. Preliminary strategies for these objectives have also been identified, and will be clarified and expanded by the workgroup as it begins the implementation process.
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Objectives | Current Activities | Accomplishments | NH Cancer Plan |
New Hampshire Comprehensive Cancer Collaboration, c/o Foundation for Healthy Communities
125 Airport Road Concord, NH 03301
phone (603) 415-4276 · fax (603) 225-4346 · email: info@nhcancerplan.org