Finding support and embracing change: At St. Luke’s, cancer survivorship aims to help

Amy Gschopf likes to say that “oncology found me.”

When she began her career as a full-time nurse a dozen years ago, her first job was working with cancer patients. And it remains that way today.

After serving as a chemo infusion nursing supervisor for two years at St. Luke’s Cancer Institute, a unique opportunity presented itself. Gschopf took on a new role in 2022 as the manager of St. Luke’s cancer survivorship program.

“Survivorship has morphed over the years and become a more common term in the last 20 years,” she said. “The focus was always on treatment, which is of course vital, but there also are questions about well-being, side effects, how will it affect them physically but also mentally?”

In the last two decades in particular, survivorship has been a key part of cancer treatment. And it does not begin once chemo or surgery is completed.

“It starts on Day 1,” Gschopf said. “The patient’s mindset of course is ‘I have to fight this.’ But also, it’s important to prepare them for life afterward. They need to know we want them to have the best support from diagnosis on, for the rest of their lives.”

Survivorship services cover myriad areas, from connecting patients with St. Luke’s massage therapy or mental health services to support groups and events.

Each fall and spring, Gschopf oversees a series for survivors called Supportive Healing Inspiring Nurturing Empowering, or SHINE. Recent topics included live cooking seminars for healthy eating, reflexology and the power of coping through writing.

“On front line, you’re taking care of those immediate needs,” Gschopf said. “In survivorship, it’s been incredible to still support patients, but developing a program, collaborating with other departments and community partners, you feel like you can make a difference, in a new way.”

Hearing from patients and staff, Gschopf saw some gaps that were not always addressed, some questions patients had that either they did not feel comfortable asking or did not know who to ask.

In February, the second annual “Let’s Talk About It: Body Image, Sexual Health, Intimacy and Cancer” event was hosted by St. Luke’s Cancer Institute, inviting women and their partners who have experienced cancer or even still undergoing treatment to find resources and be part of discussions with experts.

Gschopf is hopeful cancer survivorship will soon find a dedicated clinical space, a place with resources in one location and one which will allow it to continue to be integrated with cancer support services, social work, psychiatry, palliative care and more.

“It’s very rewarding to apply that experience as a nurse and a leader in survivorship,” Gschopf said. “Finding ways to help outside of treatment, to stay healthy and address topics that aren’t always thought about.”