We are thrilled to announce our partnership with NCCN to create an anal cancer treatment guide for patients, enabling patients and their caregivers to take charge of their own care and recovery!
(The guide has since been updated. Access the 2022 version!)
What is the NCCN?
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network is an alliance of 31 cancer centers in the USA, recognized for dealing with complex and/or rare cancers.
NCCN Clinical Guidelines are the recognized standard for clinical direction and policy in cancer care and are among the most thorough and frequently updated clinical practice guidelines available in any area of medicine. The intent of the NCCN Guidelines is to assist in the decision-making process of individuals involved in cancer care—including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, payers, patients, and their families—with the ultimate goal of improving patient care and outcomes. The creation of a companion guide for patients is the next step forward in empowering patients with accessible information.
This new anal cancer treatment guide presents clinical information in an easy-to-read format for people with cancer and those who support them. The patient guidelines are intended to:
- Equip patients and providers with the same information as that of their medical team
- Ensure that patients, no matter where they are treated, know what the experts agree upon as the standard of treatment and care
- Empower patients with knowledge about all of their treatment and care choices
- Allow patients to self-advocate for their own best care
“Facing an anal cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming and filled with uncertainty. That’s why ACF partnered with NCCN to translate its evidence-based, expert-consensus clinical guidelines from the leading cancer hospitals in the country into a patient-friendly format. This comprehensive guide empowers patients and their caregivers by providing them access to the same information as their doctors. The more individuals and families understand about anal cancer, its treatment, and side-effects, the better prepared they are to actively participate in their care and have meaningful conversations with their medical team about treatment and recovery.”
-- Justine Almada, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Anal Cancer Foundation.
You can also access the anal cancer patient guidelines on the NCCN website, on the NCCN Patient Guides app, and in print. Anal cancer thrivers and caregivers can request a free printed copy by contacting us with their name and address.
