Considering Cancer a Chronic Condition

Advancements in oncology have led to a shift in how several types of cancers are treated, allowing many patients to live longer. It is now common for patients and providers to think of cancer as another chronic condition as better treatments continue to improve long-term disease control and survival with fewer side effects.

Better Treatments

Targeted therapies are a large factor in improved cancer care, as they are specific to a certain tumor characteristic such as a gene mutation or protein that drives cancer growth within the patient. Similarly, immunotherapies activate your body to recognize and fight the cancer. As new drugs are approved, patients now have alternatives if a therapy is not working or is poorly tolerated. Patients can also choose to enroll in a clinical trial and help improve treatment options for future patients.

In addition to new treatments leading to longer survival, certain cancers are generally considered chronic. Myeloma, low grade lymphomas, and chronic leukemias are all commonly referred to as chronic conditions. Some metastatic solid tumors such as lung, colon, renal, melanoma, prostate, and breast can also be controlled for years with current treatments.

Considerate Planning

Along with cancer treatment comes numerous appointments, fatigue, and scheduling challenges. Patients should be mindful about adjusting their lifestyles to better manage cancer as a chronic condition. They can enjoy important life events like travel and celebrations with strategic planning around treatment timing and having realistic plans for what they can and can’t do, as well as a plan for what to do if they get sick.

It’s important for chronic cancer patients to realize that survival and survivorship is a long-term process. Patients will be on and off treatment for the rest of their life, but by enhancing and maintaining good health with diet, exercise, and taking care of any other health issues, they will be better equipped to fight cancer. While it’s important to be as active as possible, it is imperative to listen to your body and rest when needed.

Open Communication

As always, communication with your care team to share your goals, values, and needs is critical. A big concern that patients often vocalize is how they can maintain the balance between treating the cancer and living life. Side effects are common with cancer treatment and often get more troublesome as multiple years and treatments go by. The best way to approach these considerations is to have honest discussions with their family and healthcare team about what to expect and how to handle it.

Above all, many people can still thrive regardless of their chronic conditions, whether cancer-related or not. Cancer is no longer the fatal illness it once was, and even side effects that were once taken as a given can now be managed with different options. Survival rates continue to climb with every new advancement in the field, and patients now have more hope than ever.