Updated: February 2023

Author: Cancer Program, Vermont Department of Health

Approximately 7% of Vermont adults (39,000 people) are living with a current or previous cancer diagnosis (BRFSS 2021). Vermont’s large aging population, combined with significant innovations in early detection and improvements in medical treatment, result in more people than ever living with cancer. A cancer diagnosis can be a tremendous burden. Treatments that prolong life, even those that cure certain cancers, can also cause serious and sometimes long-term health problems.

The percent of Vermonters with a cancer diagnosis reporting “always or usually receiving emotional or social support” has stayed relatively stable since the CCC started tracking this measure in 2008. There is currently no significant, measurable trend in the percentage of Vermont adult cancer survivors always or usually getting emotional or social support.  It is surprising but reassuring that there was not a decrease in 2020 due to Covid.

The percent of Vermonters with a cancer diagnosis reporting always or usually receiving emotional or social support is similar to the percent of those without a cancer diagnosis (BRFSS 2018 and 2020).  This suggests that Vermont organizations working with cancer survivors have made progress in addressing the quality of life needs among cancer survivors.  The target of 90%, however, has not yet been achieved.

In addition to the physical health concerns associated with cancer, living with a cancer diagnosis can significantly affect a person’s emotional wellbeing. Cancer survivors may have cancer-specific concerns, including fear of recurrence, more generalized symptoms of worry, fear of the future, fear of death, trouble sleeping, fatigue, financial challenges related to their cancer diagnosis and trouble concentrating.

Emotional and social support is vital to restoring a person’s quality of life following a cancer diagnosis. Survivors need access to a variety of resources to manage the physical and mental challenges that may develop or persist following treatment.

This indicator is part of Healthy Vermonters 2020 (the State Health Assessment) that documents the health status of Vermonters at the start of the decade and the population health indicators and goals that guided the work of public health through 2020.

This indicator is aligned with the Healthy People 2020 developmental objective C-14 which is to “increase the mental and physical health-related quality of life of cancer survivors” (http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/cancer/objectives).

It was also included as an objective in the 2020 Vermont Cancer Plan as well as the current 2025 Vermont Cancer Plan .

Vermonters Taking Action Against Cancer (VTAAC)

Vermont Department of Health Offices of Local Health

American Cancer Society

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

University of Vermont Cancer Center

American Lung Association

It is difficult to measure the outcomes of strategies addressing the emotional health needs of cancer survivors due to variations in cancer type, treatment, and individual socioeconomic characteristics. Nevertheless, studies do show that access to emotional support and related services can lessen physical and mental impairments during and after cancer treatment.

Some of the basic tenants of health care delivery and social support that are known to improve cancer survivor quality of life include the following:

• Assessment of psychosocial distress and referral to mental health providers.
• Provision of survivorship care guielines to outline the proposed follow-up plan.
• Assessment of employment, insurance, and financial issues, as well as referral to rehabilitation and social work providers.
• Provision of written information on available community support services.

The 2025 Vermont Cancer Plan, published by the Vermont Department of Health Comprehensive Cancer Control Program and statewide cancer coalition Vermonters Taking Action Against Cancer (VTAAC), provides a strategic roadmap for reducing the burden of cancer in Vermont. The plan includes measurable objectives as priorities for action in the following areas:

• Health Equity
• Cancer Prevention
• Cancer Early Detection
• Cancer Directed Therapy & Supportive Care
• Survivorship & Advanced Care Planning

Through the Vermont Cancer Plan, the Department of Health focuses and prioritizes the numerous efforts carried out statewide to reduce behaviors that are cancer risk factors, increase early detection of cancers, and provide access to quality cancer treatment for all Vermonters. The combined work of these Departmental Programs and partners influences the overall burden of cancer in Vermont.

Due to BRFSS weighting methodology changes beginning in 2011, comparisons between data collected in 2011 and later and that from 2010 and earlier should be made with caution. Differences between data from 2011 forward and earlier years may be due to methodological changes, rather than changes in opinion or behavior.

Cancer survivorship is synonymous with cancer prevalence at the Vermont Department of Health. It is important to note that the definition has changed over the years and because of this change, comparisons between cancer prevalence and survivorship data collected in 2011 and later and that from 2010 and earlier should be made with caution. Starting in 2011 and going forward, cancer prevalence and survivorship is defined as anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer, excluding those who have ever been diagnosed with skin cancer.

Data is updated as it becomes available, and timing may vary by data source