The LIVESTRONG Survivorship Center of Excellence Network.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The LIVESTRONG Survivorship Center of Excellence Network consists of eight National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers funded by the LAF between 2004 and 2008. The Network was created to accelerate the pace of progress in addressing the needs of the growing survivor community. METHODS: This paper will briefly describe some of the salient issues surrounding the care of cancer survivors, and examine models of survivorship care that are being developed in individual Centers of Excellence (COE) as well as in the overall Network. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: As the recommendations and policies for optimal survivorship care have to be feasible and relevant in the community setting, each COE is partnered with up to three community affiliates. Through these partnerships, the community affiliates develop survivorship initiatives at their institutions with support and guidance from their primary COE.