Who is a cancer survivor? : a systematic review of published definitions

The term \u201ccancer survivor\u201d is commonly used by different persons, clinical institutions, academic bodies, and political organizations although it lacks of a unanimous and detailed definition. The objective of the study is to make a systematic review of published and proposed definitions of \u201ccancer survivor.\u201d Utilizing a systematic search strategy with different strings of \u201ccancer survivor,\u201d we searched the following databases: Medline (June 1975\u2013June 2015), Scopus (all the years), Web of Science (all the years), Google Scholar (all the years), ERIC (all the years). This review suggests that there is not a unique definition of who is a \u201ccancer survivor\u201d and what is \u201ccancer survivorship.\u201d However, the most widely used definition sees cancer survivorship as a process that begins at the moment of diagnosis and continues through the balance of life. This definition highlights psychological and legal patient\u2019s needs\u2014as well as medical ones\u2014to receive care and assistance from the beginning and, at the same time, it establishes valid criteria for making scientific and statistical sampling research. The extensive use of the term \u201ccancer survivor\u201d indicates that it is a significant term. This review has been written to outline the state of the art and it invites to reflect on a shared definition that could satisfy both clinical and research aspects. Implication for cancer survivors: this compendium of proposed definitions may improve communication among the many patients and patient organizations that use and work with this term