The BETER survivorship care initiative for Hodgkin lymphoma; Tailored survivorship care for late effects of treatment

The Dutch BETER consortium has established a national care infrastructure for Hodgkin lymphoma survivors. 'BETER' [the Dutch word for 'better'] stands for Better care after Hodgkin lymphoma (HL): Evaluation of longterm Treatment Effects and screening Recommendations. The survivorship care focuses on longterm effects of HL treatment. Over 10,000 HL survivors who were treated in the period spanning 19652008 have been identified. As part of the survivorship care initiative, specific BETER outpatient clinics have been set up. A dedicated website, www.beternahodgkin.nl, provides HL survivors with relevant information. The stakeholders of the BETER survivorship care programme aim to achieve an improved healthy life expectancy for patients treated for HL