With progress in treating cancer comes a new and unique challenge—ensuring the long-term health of the nearly 12 million cancer survivors in the United States. At NorthShore University HealthSystem (NorthShore), we know that the end of treatment is not the end of the cancer experience. That's why we have the Living in the Future (LIFE) Cancer Survivorship Program...Your personal prescription for LIFE.
About Our Program
Living in the Future (LIFE) is NorthShore's cancer survivorship program designed to create a bridge for continued care of post treatment cancer survivors back to the community, family and primary care setting. LIFE is the first community cancer survivorship program in the region uniquely designed by its program director
Carol A. Rosenberg MD, FACP, Director of Preventive Health Initiatives for NorthShore, to adhere to the guidelines proposed by the Institute of Medicine. The LIFE program, implemented in part through a Lance Armstrong Foundation Community Cancer Survivorship Program Grant, is the first program of its type in the Northern Lake/Cook County area.
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Helen Hackett, seen here in the final stage of her treatment, is relying on LIFE for a smooth transition into the primary care setting of breast cancer survivorship.
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The LIFE program features an individualized risk adapted visit with Carole Martz, RN, AOCN, APN, a specialized oncology nurse with expertise in cancer survivorship, who will provide counseling regarding a customized survivorship care plan following a unique template set forth by the Institute of Medicine. This personalized long term care plan will include a portable detail of the survivor’s oncology diagnostic and treatment summary, cite guidelines for continued monitoring, include preventive practice recommendations, and map out available resources and services such as genetics, fertility and integrative medicine consultations. In addtion to a personalized care plan, the LIFE Program offers Cancer Survivorship Support Group for Women at Highland Park Hospital. For upcoming support group dates, call Carole Martz, RN, AOCN at 847.926.5818.
Survivorship 101
An important aspect of the LIFE program is the Myra Rubenstein Weis Survivorship 101 Seminar: Thrivership! This is an educational workshop and resource series available to all in the community, which covers major topics of cancer survivorship, as well as promotes the acquisition of skills to understand, select and navigate community based cancer survivor resources. The Celebrate LIFE series of seminars such as "Eat to Beat Malignancy and Walk Away from Cancer","Self Esteem and Sexual Intimacy After Cancer" and "How LIFE Events Impact Insurance and Employment" are held primarily at Highland Park in collaboration with the American Cancer Society "I Can Cope" education modules.
The LIFE Program and the Cancer Wellness Center joined hands for an "Evening of Survivorship" . The evening included interactive discussions and demonstrations. Survivorship topics include “Cognitive dysfunction: Is it Chemobrain?”; “Food, Facts and Myths”; “Re-Establishing Intimacy”; “Stress Reduction”; and the “New Normal,” Contact the LIFE Program at 847.926.5818 for more information.
If you have had cancer, ask your oncologist for a referral. There is no cost to participate. For questions or more information about our program call 847.926.5818.