Take Action at the Cancer Center
An estimated 17 million Americans are cancer survivors. It takes a concerted effort to survive cancer, and the University of Illinois Cancer Center Survivorship Program provides patients with the resources they need to help them continue living a full life.
The mission of the survivorship program is to provide outstanding, comprehensive, patient-centered care that reduces the long-term negative impacts of cancer and cancer treatments for all patients.
Physicians in cancer survivorship coordinate care between the cancer specialist and primary care physician to ensure that all aspects of a cancer survivor’s health needs are met. All patients with a history of cancer — regardless of where they had their cancer treated — are eligible to receive care in the University of Illinois Cancer Center Survivorship Program. Our team works to ensure patients receive coordinated care by working with their primary care physicians and oncology groups.
The survivorship program is housed within Mile Square Health Center, a federally qualified health center.
University of Illinois Cancer Center Survivorship Program
Navigating life can be difficult for cancer survivors. Depression, anxiety, stress, pain, activity limitations, and poor general health are just some of the hurdles faced by cancer survivors.
Survivorship care is needed because traditional medical care for cancer patients has historically been fragmented and poorly coordinated, leaving both survivors and healthcare providers confused about who is delivering which aspects of care.
The goal of the Cancer Center Survivorship Program is to ensure a patient’s whole health is considered by working to minimize the negative consequences of cancer and cancer treatments. Since everyone is different, care is personalized to meet each person’s unique needs.
The University of Illinois Cancer Center Survivorship Program offers:
- Cancer screenings — both recurrent and new. In addition to regular health maintenance, additional screening may be needed as a result of cancer and cancer treatments.
- Care coordination between cancer specialist and primary care physicians
- Monitoring of long-term effects of cancer and treatment, including medical and psychosocial effects
- Interventions for the consequences of cancer and its treatment, such as through medication, specialty referral, therapy, or other support care services
- Assessment for the needs for genetic testing
- Referrals to supportive services
Several other initiatives led by the University of Illinois Cancer Center Survivorship Team are designed to prevent cancer occurrence, such as the Mile Square Family History Screening Initiative. This pilot program is designed to identify patients at increased risk for familial cancer syndromes.
Who Can Receive Survivorship Care?
Often when people speak of survivorship care, they are referring to the time after completion of active cancer treatment. While this is the most common time for cancer patients to engage with cancer survivorship programs, it is never too early to start survivorship care.
Anyone with a cancer diagnosis — whether just diagnosed, recently completed treatment, on active maintenance therapy, or treatment completed years ago — can receive survivorship care. Therefore, we see patients as early as their cancer diagnosis.
University of Illinois Cancer Center Partner: Wellness House at UI Health Mile Square
The UI Health Cancer Center is partnered with Wellness House, providing cancer patients and their families access to free supportive therapy and survivorship programs close to home. These programs are available to all patients, including those outside the UI Health system, and they’re designed to help them meet their emotional, physical, and spiritual needs.
This partnership features more than 40 programs offered at two UI Health locations each month, making it easier for historically marginalized communities near UI Health to access services:
- The Cancer Clinic at the Outpatient Care Center, located at 1801 W. Taylor St.
- Mile Square Health Center Main Location, a federally qualified health center (FQHC), located at 1220 S. Wood St.
Programs offered at UI Health include:
- Information & Education: Helpful information while dealing with cancer, from updates on the latest treatments and help with insurance to learning how to manage side effects
- Exercise & Nutrition: Classes for maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle, including nutrition, exercise sessions, and activities that help calm the body and mind
- Stress Management: Classes and groups that help to relieve stress caused by cancer, including meditation and self-expression through art and music
- Child & Family Programs: Family programs that help children and families learn about cancer and how to express their feelings in a safe and welcoming place
- Support Groups & Counseling: Weekly and monthly groups that provide opportunities to share stories and experiences with others affected by cancer
All Wellness House programs are free and for those affected by cancer.
Classes are taught in English, except the Mat Yoga class on Wednesdays is taught in Spanish.
For more information or to register for programs visit wellnesshouse.org/UIHealth.
Risk Assessment With Cancer IQ
Cancer IQ is a HIPAA-secure web-based risk assessment tool that asks primary care patients about their personal cancer screenings and family cancer history in order to help their providers guide their medical care.
By identifying high-risk individuals, University of Illinois Cancer Center and our partners can tailor cancer screening and prevention services appropriately.
Young and A Survivor (YAAS!)
YAAS! is a network of healthcare providers, community-based organizations, young survivors, and metastatic thrivers working together to bring resources and services to young women affected by breast cancer and their loved ones.
The YAAS! Network is especially focused on young women who have limited access to resources and support because of race, color, sexual orientation and/or identity, disability, education, income, and other structural barriers.
By providing education and training to healthcare providers and community-based health workers, YAAS! increases awareness of the needs of young women affected by breast cancer to provide young women the support they need.
Quarterly Seminars in Cancer Survivorship
University of Illinois Cancer Center Survivorship Program hosts a variety of specialists to speak on various topics related to survivorship care, late and long-term side effects, and supportive oncology. These quarterly seminars will highlight important survivorship research taking place at University of Illinois Cancer Center on the effects of cancer and cancer treatment for survivors and families.
Building on the Bench to Community Model, each session will feature a research presentation followed by a relevant patient story.
Contact Us
For more information or to register for programs visit wellnesshouse.org/UIHealth.
