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

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.

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.

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.