In collaboration with Allerzorg – Care for Cancer, Maasstad Hospital is the first hospital in the Rotterdam region to start offering oncological aftercare to ex-cancer patients on a structural basis. In this aftercare process, patients are supported at home in their familiar environment by oncology nurses.
Oncology patients whose treatment has been completed are offered standard follow-up check-ups in the hospital. During this follow-up, the emphasis is on treatment, results and checks. Once at home, questions often arise about the effects of the treatment on daily life. “Research has shown that patients experience a gap in the care offer as soon as they have finished treatment,” says Remco Albers, nurse specialist and team manager oncology at Maasstad Hospital. “There is clearly a need for support with the physical and mental consequences of treatment and reintegration into society. Thanks to the collaboration with Allerzorg, we can now offer that aftercare and guide our patients even better.”
Right care in the right place
At the end of the treatment process in the hospital, the therapist at Maasstad Hospital refers the patient to an oncology nurse from Allerzorg for a personal consultation at home. The nurses are in close contact with the hospital and answer questions from the patient about the physical and psychological consequences of cancer and the treatment and give practical advice about the home and work situation. In addition, they provide information about additional care options and refer them to, among other things, walk-in centers or patient associations. “By expanding aftercare, more attention is being paid to what people need to resume life with or after cancer. This can include care for children, partner or relatives. After all, the disease also has a major impact on them,” explains Saskia Claassen, healthcare specialist at Allerzorg.
Patient and experience
The aftercare process is tailor-made, because every personal need is different. “I needed help, control and understanding when I was declared clean,” explains Nathalie (37), ex-breast cancer patient. “I was always called to stay positive and to persevere. That is difficult if you have lost your parents to cancer and then get it yourself. I ended up in a negative spiral. Fortunately, an oncology nurse from Allerzorg gave me a lot of comfort and confirmation during this period. My loved ones, oncologist, psychologist and the BeterDichtbij app also helped me. I discovered that my feeling could be there, came to the realization that my story will always be there and that I can get a lot of strength from this. As a result, I no longer see just a woman with scars in the mirror, but a very strong woman. A woman who radiates, accepts her health and picks up her life little by little.”