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The Italian response to cancer survivorship research and practice: developing an evidence base for reform

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Abstract

Introduction

Improvement in cancer survival rates have increased longevity but have also revealed physical and psycho-social sequelae of long-term survivorship and raised many questions regarding how to assess, treat, and prevent these survival-related problems. The United States, Australia, and some northern European Union countries have already started to address these issues. Italy still needs to take up this challenge, taking into account its specific social and cultural background that shapes a different survivorship scenario.

Methods

This brief report summarizes the concept of cancer survivorship and the response to this emerging public health issue in Italy. Two current nationwide research programs on long-term cancer survivorship and post-cancer pain are described to provide readers with a perspective of how Italy is seeking to increase the understanding of the needs and problems of cancer survivors.

Implications for cancer survivors

The results of these nationwide research programs will provide an evidence base for reforming the national care plans to address the needs of the growing number of Italian people with a history of cancer. It is hoped that this description of Italy’s response to this public health challenge will offer some insight into how Italy is responding to the health and psychosocial needs of cancer survivors.

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Acknowledgements

Dr. Kevin Stein PhD, director of Quality of Life & Survivorship Research at the American Cancer Society, for his authoritative supervision in editing this manuscript and for his valid support in carrying on the study on cancer survivorship in Italy.

Study Group on Pain Medicine and Palliative Care of the Italian Society of Anesthesiology, Reanimation, Analgesia, and Intensive Care (SIAARTI), Amedeo Costantini MD, Consalvo Mattia MD, Francesco Paoletti MD, Francesco Ambrosio MD, Rocco Mediati MD, Claudio Lo Presti MD, for their approval and friendly encouragement in planning the Italian Research Project on Post-cancer Pain.

Dr. Annalisa Moramarco, for her precious collaboration in both the translation and the collection of a large bibliographic data about cancer survivors’ issues.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Critical Area and Surgery, National Cancer Institute, IRCCS “Giovanni Paolo II”, Via Hanhemann 10, 70126, Bari, Italy

    Vittorio Mattioli, Rosanna Montanaro & Francesca Romito

Authors
  1. Vittorio Mattioli
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  2. Rosanna Montanaro
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  3. Francesca Romito
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Correspondence to Vittorio Mattioli.

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Mattioli, V., Montanaro, R. & Romito, F. The Italian response to cancer survivorship research and practice: developing an evidence base for reform. J Cancer Surviv 4, 284–289 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-010-0143-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-010-0143-9

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