Who is a Cancer Survivor? An individual is considered a cancer survivor from the time of cancer diagnosis, through the balance of his or her life.

As a comprehensive cancer center, Roswell Park is committed to supporting and encouraging the increasing population of cancer survivors. Why Comprehensive Cancer Centers are Critical – This link will take you to an overview of 35 years of specialized cancer research (at the NCI website).

RPCI operates a Long Term Pediatric Survivors Clinic, that was created to provide specialized medical care and counseling to former childhood cancer patients. It was one of the first of its kind in the nation. The Clinic in the Department of Pediatrics assists cancer survivors in building full, productive lives.  There are also several specialty services that can help this population, including a High Risk Breast Cancer Screening Program, a Colorectal Cancer Risk Management Clinic, Fertile Hope and Genetic Consultations.

The Institute maintains a focus on all survivors with large numbers of former patients who continue to receive follow-up supportive care after they complete active cancer therapy. The Survivorship Steering Committee is committed to enhancing and expanding needed services that will support survivors as they move away from their initial diagnosis. Survivors may have unique problems, such as difficulty in finding employment, questions concerning their reproductive ability, and the possibility of developing other malignancies later in life.