Cancer care has changed dramatically in recent years. Thanks to advances in diagnosis, surgery and treatment, more people are surviving cancer than ever before. But while survival rates continue to improve, many patients and families are discovering that the end of treatment is not the end of the cancer journey.
Survivorship can bring a complex mix of physical, emotional and practical challenges that often continue long after hospital appointments have ended. Fatigue, anxiety, fear of recurrence, changes in relationships, returning to work and adjusting to a “new normal” can all become part of daily life for those affected by cancer.
At Chai, there is an increasing need for ongoing support, with clients often describing Chai as a constant source of stability during an uncertain time in their lives.
Here, survivorship is not simply about extending life, but about helping people live as fully and comfortably as possible. Central to that support is Chai’s medical clinic, established in 2011 as a pioneering three-way collaboration with Marie Curie and the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, led by consultant in palliative medicine Dr Rachel Craig.
The clinic provides a multi-disciplinary rehabilitative and palliative care approach, supporting clients with pain management, treatment side effects, symptom control, fatigue, emotional wellbeing and the physical adjustments that can come with cancer and its treatment.
It also works closely with GPs, district nurses, hospital consultants and palliative care teams to help ensure coordinated support for both patients and families.
“Palliative care focuses on helping people live as well as possible alongside their diagnosis,” says Craig. “At Chai, we aim to support clients and those important to them at all points of their cancer trajectory, offering holistic support that addresses emotional, social and practical needs as well as physical symptoms. As treatments improve and more people are living longer with the disease, we are seeing growing demand. Despite this, the focus remains on supporting patients and families through uncertainty, keeping quality of life at the centre of care.
“Cancer survivorship has changed the conversation around cancer care. More people are living with cancer as a long-term condition and so palliative and supportive care must evolve alongside them, offering support and expertise at every stage it is needed, enabling people to live fully, whatever their prognosis.”
Palliative care is often misunderstood as being only for end-of-life support, but in reality it plays an important role throughout treatment and recovery. Increasingly, it is incorporated alongside active treatment to help manage symptoms and improve day-to-day quality of life.
Chai’s integrated model means clients can access medical support alongside counselling, physiotherapy, complementary therapies, practical advice and support groups, all under one roof. The charity also works closely with hospitals, hospices, schools and community organisations, helping patients and their loved ones navigate the many complexities that can follow a cancer diagnosis.
Recognising the need for post-treatment support, Chai recently launched What Now?, a six-week workshop designed to empower clients as they adjust to life after diagnosis and treatment. Supported by Chai’s counselling, physiotherapy and dietician teams, the programme helps clients understand and manage the ongoing impact cancer can have on both body and mind.
For many people, life after treatment can feel unexpectedly isolating. Friends and family may assume everything has returned to normal, while patients themselves are often still processing the emotional and physical effects of what they have experienced. As the Princess of Wales reflected last year, recovery after cancer can feel like a “rollercoaster”, requiring people to find a “new normal”.
That is why survivorship services are becoming an increasingly important part of cancer care. Chai’s expert and caring approach ensures cancer patients and their loved ones feel supported not only during diagnosis and treatment, but throughout the ongoing realities of living with and beyond cancer.
For more information on Chai’s specialised services, call Charlotte Hildebrand, 020 8457 3238 or see chaicancercare.org