CATEGORIES [ SURVIVORSHIP ]

Study to ease cancer-related distress needs survivors

BY LENA HUANG | JANUARY 18, 2011

The National Cancer Institute estimates over a third of survivors experience significant levels of distress linked to their cancer experiences. And while psychosocial interventions may help alleviate that distress, many survivors are unable to access or find the appropriate tools for assistance.

This is why the NCI is sponsoring a nationwide clinical trial to identify how to help distressed cancer survivors. In conjunction with Loma Linda University, the NCI has developed an accessible Internet-based intervention program that hopes to improve quality of life and reduce mood disturbances for survivors.

Jason Owen, PhD, an associate professor of psychology at Loma Linda University and lead investigator on the trial, described the program to me. It's a 12-week online program that includes a group discussion board, weekly chat conversations that are professionally facilitated and personal pages. Each week a different coping exercise is focused on, and participants are encouraged to share their experiences with each other. Participants can use the site as much or as little as they wish, although they are encouraged to attend the weekly chat conversations (currently on Wednesdays at 7-8:30 p.m. EST) to get to know other survivors and learn from each other. All information is password-protected and anonymous.

The program is free to any cancer survivors at any stage of treatment or follow-up as long as they are over age 18 and are experiencing distress. You must have access to the Internet and are willing to complete a few questionnaires as part of the trial. For more information, check out www.health-space.net or call 1-800-395-1525.

Only a handful of studies have examined the benefits of Internet-based interventions for treating distress in cancer survivors. Your participation in this study can help develop programs that are accessible to anyone with a computer. But most importantly, sharing your experiences with other survivors can be a step toward healing and toward helping others while helping yourself.

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Cancer survivors needed for study

BY LENA HUANG | OCTOBER 15, 2010

Lots of news came out of the European Society for Medical Oncology's 35th Congress over the past few days. On Sunday, there was a meeting on the need for psychosocial rehabilitation programs for survivors. Patients, survivors, and advocates shared information with health care professionals about the ongoing need and importance for psychosocial support during and after treatment.

I was reading a press release about that meeting when I got a note from Katy Plant, MPH, study manager at the Stanford Patient Education Research Center. Katy said they are still looking for survivors for their "Cancer: Surviving and Thriving" workshop and have changed the requirements to allow for more participants. This study is trying to achieve what was discussed at ESMO this past week--create a support program for cancer survivors.

I've blogged about this study before so I won't go into great detail but this Internet-based workshop aims to help survivors with the unique issues that confront them post-treatment, such as fatigue, emotional concerns, physical changes, and late effects of treatment. It also assists survivors in talking to family, friends, and health professionals about their cancer and offers social networking to connect with other survivors online. Each workshop is led by a survivor.

An earlier study by Stanford showed that participants who developed confidence in managing their own health required fewer medical interventions and were overall healthier. For more information and requirements for the current study, go to cancersurvivors.stanford.edu or email cancersurvivors@standford.edu.

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Breast cancer survivors needed

BY LENA HUANG | JANUARY 22, 2010

It's been reported that more than half of survivors feel they didn't have all the information they needed to transition from treatment into survivorship. Many organizations are trying to address this need, especially as the population of survivors continues to grow.

Army of Women is one organization that is tackling this issue by sponsoring a study to understand the best way to empower breast cancer survivors with the information they need. The "Pathways to Recovery After Breast Cancer" study is sponsored by the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service and the Army of Women to find out the best way to provide post-treatment education. They are looking for 1000 participants, but only have about 600 registered, so if you want to help, here are the qualifications:

•You were diagnosed with Stage I, II, or III breast cancer.

•You have completed your primary breast cancer treatment within the last six months OR are about to complete treatment within the next month. "Primary" treatment includes surgery and/or chemotherapy and/or radiation. Although it is not required that you are taking any drugs, women who have completed or are about to complete primary treatment, but are taking Herceptin, Tamoxifen, and other such drugs, are eligible.

•You have never been diagnosed with another cancer (breast cancer is the only invasive cancer you have had).

•You are over 18 years old.

•You are able to speak and understand English.

•You live in the United States.

•You have access to a computer.

If you qualify, sign up here.

And if you don't qualify but are interested in other studies, check out the "current studies" on the Army of Women website. Every little bit helps in the battle against cancer.

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Cancer survivors sought for online study

BY LENA HUANG | SEPTEMBER 10, 2009

Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine and The Cancer Research Center of Hawaii are recruiting participants for a study that hopes to improve the lives of cancer survivors.

"Cancer: Thriving & Surviving" is a six-week, Internet-based workshop to help cancer survivors adjust to life after cancer. Many survivors have unique issues after completing treatment; they may struggle with physical changes, late effects of treatment, emotional concerns, and/or the stress of recurrence.

Researchers hope this interactive workshop will help survivors through some of these issues. Each workshop will bring together about 25 survivors and will be facilitated by two trained moderators, one of whom is a cancer survivor. Participants will also have access to an online learning center and discussion boards, and will be asked to log in at their convenience two or three times for a total of about two hours a week during the six-week workshop.

This study will assess the effectiveness of this program. The workshop is based on Stanford's "Healthier Living with Chronic Conditions Self-Management Program," which showed in a similar study that participants who developed confidence in managing their own health required fewer medical interventions and were overall healthier.

Researchers are looking for about 400 survivors who have completed treatment to participate in this study. For more information and requirements, go to cancersurvivors.stanford.edu or email cancersurvivors@standford.edu.

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