Journey Forward has launched a pilot programme in California, Colorado, Maine, Nevada and New Hampshire, promotes physician and patient understanding of the post-treatment effects of cancer. By facilitating the development of a survivorship care plan, the programme aims to improve continuity and coordination of care for cancer survivors throughout their lives. People surviving a cancer diagnosis may benefit from a new programme introduced by a collaboration of health care providers, patient advocates, health benefit insurers and a biotechnology company.

This first-of-its-kind programme was created in response to recommendations by the independent Institute of Medicine (IOM), which concluded in a November 2005 report that 'the consequences of cancer and its treatment are substantial' and largely unmet. The report says many cancer survivors are 'lost in transition' from active treatment to survivorship, with few clues about how to manage their follow-up care and about the physical and mental health problems that may result from their treatment.

"Patients often have no idea what to expect once they've finished their cancer treatment, and neither do the primary care providers on their team," said Dr Patricia Ganz, director of the UCLA Cancer Survivorship Center and a nationally renowned expert on survivorship. "There is a need for better post-treatment coordination of care and the treatment summary and survivorship care plan is a place to start. Survivors often don't know what kind of surveillance and follow-up care they need to monitor for disease recurrence or any late effects that may result from their cancer treatment."

"By providing tools and information to both parties, Journey Forward opens the door for improved dialogue between physicians and patients and promotes the coordination of long-term care for people with cancer. It also gives survivors a greater opportunity to participate in their care," said Ellen Stovall, a three-time cancer survivor and acting president & CEO of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship.

Journey Forward, a collaboration among National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS), the UCLA Cancer Survivorship Center, WellPoint, Inc and Genentech, will distribute kits to health care providers and patients that explain the importance of follow-up care plans, offer tools for providers to generate these plans and offer interactive tools for patients to participate in the process. The kits are tailored to oncologists, patients and primary care physicians. Journey Forward will initially focus on survivors of breast and colon cancers as well as oncologists and primary care providers. The programme will later expand to target additional providers and survivors of additional cancer types throughout the country.

"WellPoint is committed to working with other health care partners to develop innovative programmes and services that improve the health of our communities and consumers," said Angela F Braly, president and CEO, WellPoint, Inc. "Through collaborative efforts like Journey Forward, we can help physicians, members and insurers work together toward short-term and long-term treatment plans that help ensure the most appropriate health care services for each patient."

David Schenkein, Genentech's senior vice president, Clinical Oncology and Haematology, adds, "Improved diagnostic testing and new personalized cancer medicines have helped many people live longer lives. Journey Forward can help ensure that, after a person completes their initial cancer treatment, they continue to get the best possible care as they begin to rebuild their life."