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our mission and why it matters

CANCER ADVENTURES is a 501(c)3 funded by grant awards, donations and proceeds from the book, Cancer Adventures: Turning loss into triumph. The organization is dedicated to the message of cancer prevention, early detection, survivorship and quality of life with a focus on nutrition, physical activity and giving back to make a difference within one’s community.

The National Cancer Institute estimates there were 3 million cancer survivors in America in 1971. Today there are 12 million strong. A study produced by the Advisory Board Company in 2008 cites a LIVESTRONG poll that confirms the need for post-treatment support (49 percent of cancer survivors identified unmet survivorship needs): “Of particular concern … patients felt their oncologists were either unwilling or unable to properly address their needs.”

“The call to action to address the needs of survivors is a relatively recent phenomenon,” states the Advisory Board Company report. It refers to three landmark studies:

• A 2004 National Action Plan for Cancer Survivorship submitted by the Centers for Disease Control and the Lance Armstrong Foundation, identified the need for clinical practice guidelines and increasing public education about survivorship.

• A 2006 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, entitled From Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor: Lost in Transition, highlighted the challenges faced by survivors.

• A 2007 IOM report, entitled Cancer Care for the Whole Patient, has placed survivorship in the broader context of a patient’s treatment journey by focusing on addressing patients’ psychosocial needs.

Cancer programs in large academic medical centers were the first to respond to this call to action by establishing comprehensive survivorship programs. It has been our experience that Cancer Services personnel in smaller centers – social workers, nurse navigators, care coordinators – understand the value of survivorship education and are seeking to build programs, but with limited resources. Part of the mission of CANCER ADVENTURES involves partnering with cancer centers by presenting an inspiring first-person story and providing resources and information for establishing a thriving survivorship program based on the DEFEAT Cancer model.

In addition, we have begun collecting inspirational stories of survivors and caregivers who are making a difference, available in print (book and web formats) and with plans for a Web-based video format. The intent is for Cancer Services personnel to access these stories at no cost to enhance their existing survivorship programs with the inspirational component.

The CANCER ADVENTURES message is also one for the general populace. It’s about making the change to a healthier lifestyle in incremental steps. According to the National Institutes of Health, “if Americans had normal weight, stopped smoking and stopped drinking to excess, 80% of healthcare costs in America would disappear.”

Along with the exercise and nutrition components, we emphasize the importance of having regular check-ups and timely screenings. If Gary had had a check-up one year earlier, his cancer would more than likely have been contained within the prostate and cured through surgery.

CANCER ADVENTURES is passionate about inspiring cancer survivors and their caregivers, the medical professionals who serve them, and the general populace toward a healthier lifestyle and more purposeful living.