Cancer Program Administrators' survey results.

In summary, cancer programs across the country have been developing since 1975. A more formal organizational structure has been adopted to program activities since 1980. The full-time Cancer Program Administrator position exists in about one-third of the programs reporting. Persons occupying the position are at least bachelors degreed with many also having a masters degree. Strengths, weaknesses, and obstacles to program development are basically the same items across the country. It appears that programs that have one problem resolved are still working towards the solution of another problem and vice versa among programs. All programs are struggling for identity within the hospital and are in developmental stages with a lot of activity focused on clarifying the position of an organized cancer program within the hospital organization.

Clinical Oncology Program: a community cancer control model.

The majority of cancer patients are diagnosed and treated in their local communities, making it imperative to upgrade cancer management at the community level. The Clinical Oncology Program has demonstrated that sophisticated cancer control programs are possible in a community setting. Moreover, if "quality of survival" data collection is included in such programs, valuable information emerges that can further improve cancer management in the community.