Because HD is a rare cancer, relatively little has been published to describe the sociodemographic characteristics of the HD survivor population.
It has been 20 years since Fitzhugh Mullan described survivorship as a unique phase of the cancer trajectory and spoke of the need to minimize its medical and social hazards. The concept of survivorship has evolved and to some extent continues to stir controversy. But for many, an accepted definition of cancer survivors includes all of those who are living with a history of cancer. In this report, the committee decided to focus on the phase of survivorship that follows primary treatment and lasts until cancer recurrence or end of life. This period represents largely uncharted territory in terms of evidence-based guidance for providers of survivorship care. The psychosocial issues that arise during this phase have also been relatively unexamined.