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Who Is a Cancer Survivor? A Systematic Review of Published Definitions

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Abstract

The term “cancer survivor” is commonly used by different persons, clinical institutions, academic bodies, and political organizations although it lacks of a unanimous and detailed definition. The objective of the study is to make a systematic review of published and proposed definitions of “cancer survivor.” Utilizing a systematic search strategy with different strings of “cancer survivor,” we searched the following databases: Medline (June 1975–June 2015), Scopus (all the years), Web of Science (all the years), Google Scholar (all the years), ERIC (all the years). This review suggests that there is not a unique definition of who is a “cancer survivor” and what is “cancer survivorship.” However, the most widely used definition sees cancer survivorship as a process that begins at the moment of diagnosis and continues through the balance of life. This definition highlights psychological and legal patient’s needs—as well as medical ones—to receive care and assistance from the beginning and, at the same time, it establishes valid criteria for making scientific and statistical sampling research. The extensive use of the term “cancer survivor” indicates that it is a significant term. This review has been written to outline the state of the art and it invites to reflect on a shared definition that could satisfy both clinical and research aspects. Implication for cancer survivors: this compendium of proposed definitions may improve communication among the many patients and patient organizations that use and work with this term.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Foundations of the Life Sciences Bioethics and Cognitive Sciences, European School of Molecular Medicine (SEMM), European Institute of Oncology, Via Adamello 16, 20139, Milan, Italy

    Chiara Marzorati

  2. Applied Research Unit for Cognitive and Psychological Science, European Institute of Oncology, Via Ripamonti 432, 20143, Milan, Italy

    Chiara Marzorati, Silvia Riva & Gabriella Pravettoni

  3. Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    Silvia Riva & Gabriella Pravettoni

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  1. Chiara Marzorati
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  2. Silvia Riva
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Correspondence to Gabriella Pravettoni.

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Marzorati, C., Riva, S. & Pravettoni, G. Who Is a Cancer Survivor? A Systematic Review of Published Definitions. J Canc Educ 32, 228–237 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-016-0997-2

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