The ASCO Educational Book is a collection of articles written by ASCO Annual Meeting speakers and oncology experts. Published annually, each volume highlights the most compelling research and developments across many different fields of cancer care.

Ryan Nipp, MD, MPH, is a gastrointestinal oncologist and health services researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital.

In this podcast from the ASCO Educational Book, Dr. Ryan Nipp discusses the long-term survivorship needs of patients who receive extended cancer treatment.

For some people, their cancer care will involve continued treatment over many years to either prevent their cancer from returning or worsening. This is called extended treatment. At the same time, extended treatment comes with challenges, such as side effects that may affect a person’s quality of life, financial costs of care, and the need to take medications regularly for a long time. Extended care can also be challenging for family caregivers.

Tailoring survivorship care for those on extended treatment will help patients and family caregivers with the unique challenges of extended cancer care. Open communication between patients, their families, and the health care team is key to addressing side effects and other challenges of extended cancer therapy.

Major Discussion Points

• What is extended cancer therapy, and why do some people need it? [2:09]

• How can survivorship care help patients manage side effects? [4:18]

• What should family caregivers know about caring for loved ones on extended therapy? [5:07]

This is a prerecorded audio podcast. It can be listened to online or downloaded to your computer. A transcript of this podcast is also available. For more information, visit the Cancer.Net podcast page.