The Pink Ribbon Survivors Network: An Internet resource for breast cancer survivorship education for patients and the health care providers that care for them.

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (34_suppl) ◽  
pp. 329-329
Author(s):  
Robert E. Fisher ◽  
Kelly Ann Adams
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Cancer Survivorship ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Internet Resource ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivorship

329 Background: The authors identified a need to provide three online tools for the benefit of breast cancer survivors and health care providers: 1) An online collection of relevant publications from all cancer specialties regarding breast cancer survivorship housed in one virtual library. 2) An online collection of guidelines and relevant publications as a resource for primary care providers to access clinical information on medical care and psychosocial issues regarding breast cancer survivorship. 3) An online collection of resources, organizations, and supportive programs and selected readings for breast cancer survivors. These readings would be organized in a "Curriculum for Recovery" Library. We were motivated by the belief that, "all breast cancer survivors are underserved, if their healthcare providers are undereducated." Methods: Using the Joomla software system, a free, online website has been developed. This site houses the three virtual libraries, on separate landing pages, described above. Additional resources for breast cancer survivors are also housed on the website. Results: The Pink Ribbon Survivors Network now provides a resource of over 500 separate listings designed to educate and support breast cancer survivors, and health care professionals. The online professional libraries were created from abstracts available from medical journals and similar mainstream oncology publications. The libraries are continuously updated with new publications. These collective libraries will serve as unique breast cancer survivorship tools for women and their health care providers, for new publications, and for resources. Conclusions: This abstract establishes that a system using internet technology can provide virtual resources for breast cancer survivors, cancer specialists, and primary health care providers. This is now a functional online system for the 2.5 million breast cancer survivors and nearly 500,000 health care providers involved in the care of these survivors. The organization’s website is www.PinkRibbonSurvivorsNetwork.org.

Physical Activity and Breast Cancer Survivorship

2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 224-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Brunet ◽  
Catherine M. Sabiston ◽  
Sarkis Meterissian
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Health Behavior Change ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Physical Activity Counseling ◽  
Activity Counseling

The completion of primary treatment for breast cancer has been referred to as a “teachable moment” for health behavior change, suggesting that women are receptive to receiving physical activity counseling. However, the majority of breast cancer survivors are not sufficiently active. Health care providers may play a pivotal role in increasing patients’ physical activity behavior, yet physician counseling for physical activity is not done regularly. One reason for this failure may relate to the limited guidelines put forward to assist health care providers in how best to optimize the benefits of physical activity among breast cancer survivors. To help provide guidelines for physical activity counseling with breast cancer survivors, the authors synthesized evidence-based recommendations based on a review of 30 intervention studies. The evidence on (1) type, (2) intensity, and (3) frequency and duration of physical activity for this population was examined. On the basis of the reviewed studies, the authors find that physical activity programs for breast cancer survivors should include aerobic training at least 3 times/wk for 30 minutes, resistance training 2 to 3 times/wk (6-12 exercises), and flexibility training 3 times/wk for 50 to 60 minutes to obtain health benefits. The provision of these recommendations may facilitate effective and consistent delivery of physical activity counseling to breast cancer survivors.

scholarly journals Perspectives of Survivorship Care Plans Among Older Breast Cancer Survivors: A Pilot Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 107327482091720
Author(s):  
Jessica L. Krok-Schoen ◽  
Michelle J. Naughton ◽  
Anne M. Noonan ◽  
Janell Pisegna ◽  
Jennifer DeSalvo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Survivorship Care Plan ◽  
Survivorship Care ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Term Care

The Commission on Cancer’s standard 3.3 represents a paradigm shift in the care of cancer survivors, recommending that survivors receive a treatment summary and survivorship care plan (SCPs). A focus on older breast cancer survivors is needed, as they are the majority of the breast cancer population and their experiences and perspectives of SCPs is limited in the literature. This pilot study utilized a mixed methods approach (focus groups and self-report questionnaire data) to gather information on older (≥65 years) breast cancer survivors’ perspectives of their SCPs, cancer survivorship, and communication with their health-care providers. The questionnaire was completed individually by the participants prior to the focus group and contained items on basic demographics and their health status following cancer treatment. The focus groups indicated that only a minority of women actually developed a SCP. Those who developed a SCP in collaboration with their providers valued the personal care and attention received. However, some participants reported poor communication with their providers and within their health-care team, resulting in frustration and confusion. Participants’ suggestions for ideal SCPs included better education and personalization, particularly in appropriate nutrition and exercise, and managing side effects and comorbidities. Lastly, the women believed that additional long-term care resources, such as health coaches, were important in improving their survivorship. These findings provide insight into enhancing the content, communication, and application of SCPs to improve the survivorship experience of older breast cancer survivors.

scholarly journals Prevention, Screening, and Surveillance Care for Breast Cancer Survivors Compared With Controls: Changes from 1998 to 2002

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 1054-1061 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire F. Snyder ◽  
Kevin D. Frick ◽  
Melinda E. Kantsiper ◽  
Kimberly S. Peairs ◽  
Robert J. Herbert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Physician Visits ◽  
Rate Of Increase ◽  
Trends Over Time ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Over Time

Purpose To examine how care for breast cancer survivors compares with controls. Patients and Methods Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results–Medicare database, we examined five cohorts of stages 1 to 3 breast cancer survivors diagnosed from 1998 to 2002. For each survivor cohort (defined by diagnosis year), we calculated the number of visits to oncology specialists, primary care providers (PCPs), and other physicians and the percentage who received influenza vaccination, cholesterol screening, colorectal cancer screening, bone densitometry, and mammography during survivorship year 1 (days 366 to 730 postdiagnosis). We compared survivors' care to that of five cohorts of screening controls who were matched to survivors on age, ethnicity, sex, and region and who had a mammogram in the survivor's year of diagnosis and to that of five cohorts of comorbidity controls who were matched on age, ethnicity, sex, region, and comorbidity. We examined whether survivors' care was associated with the mix of physician specialties that were visited. Results A total of 23,731 survivors were matched with 23,731 screening controls and 23,396 comorbidity controls. There was no difference in trends over time in PCP visits between survivors and either control group. The survivors' rate of increase in other physician visits was greater than screening controls (P = .002) but was no different from comorbidity controls. Survivors were less likely to receive preventive care than screening controls but were more likely than comorbidity controls. Trends over time in survivors' care tended to be better than screening controls but were no different than comorbidity controls. Survivors who visited both a PCP and oncology specialist were most likely to receive recommended care. Conclusion Involvement by both PCPs and oncology specialists can facilitate appropriate care for survivors.

scholarly journals Transitioning to Breast Cancer Survivorship: Perspectives of Patients, Cancer Specialists, and Primary Care Providers

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (S2) ◽  
pp. 459-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melinda Kantsiper ◽  
Erin L. McDonald ◽  
Gail Geller ◽  
Lillie Shockney ◽  
Claire Snyder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Cancer Survivorship ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivorship ◽  
Cancer Specialists

Guideline-concordant surveillance and follow-up care among low-income patients with breast cancer: The role of primary care medical homes.

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (34_suppl) ◽  
pp. 171-171
Author(s):  
Stephanie B. Wheeler ◽  
Racquel Elizabeth Kohler ◽  
Ravi K. Goyal ◽  
Kristen Hassmiller Lich ◽  
Alexis Moore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Cancer Survivorship ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivorship ◽  
Medical Homes ◽  
Follow Up Care

171 Background: Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC) initiated an innovative medical home (MH) program in the 1990s to improve primary care in Medicaid-insured populations. CCNC has been successful in improving asthma, diabetes, and cardiovascular outcomes, but has not been evaluated in the context of cancer care. We sought to determine whether MH enrollment was associated with guideline-concordant surveillance and follow-up care among breast cancer survivors. Methods: Using state cancer registry records matched to Medicaid claims, we identified women ages 18-64 diagnosed with stage 0, I, or II breast cancer from 2003-2007 and tracked their CCNC enrollment. Using published American Society for Clinical Oncology breast cancer survivorship guidelines to define our outcomes, we employed multivariate logistic regressions to examine correlates of receipt of surveillance mammogram and at least two physical exams within 15 months post-diagnosis. Results: In total, 840 women were included in our sample. Approximately half were enrolled in a CCNC MH during the study period, 38% were enrolled for more than 7 months post-diagnosis. Enrollment in a MH for at least 7 months post-diagnosis was strongly associated with receiving guideline-recommended surveillance mammogram (p<0.01) and at least 2 physical exams (p<0.01) within 15 months post-diagnosis. Conclusions: Results suggest that MH enrollment is associated with higher quality breast cancer survivorship care among women insured by Medicaid. Given the growing population of cancer survivors and increased emphasis on primary care MH, more research is needed to explore how medical homes can enhance and ensure the provision of guideline-recommended care during cancer survivorship.

Improving patient participation in a breast cancer survivorship program at a safety net hospital.

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 60-60
Author(s):  
Shakuntala Shrestha ◽  
Pam Khosla ◽  
Janos Molnar ◽  
Maria Eugenia Corona ◽  
Sofia M Garcia
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Cancer Survivorship ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Care Plan ◽  
Survivorship Care Plan ◽  
Survivorship Care ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivorship ◽  
Safety Net Hospital

60 Background: To provide comprehensive services and meet Commission on Cancer (CoC) accreditation requirements, we developed and evaluated a customized breast cancer SCP template and delivery model. Objective: To implement and pilot test survivorship care plan (SCP) delivery for breast cancer survivors. Methods: Clinicians at a safety net hospital partnered with investigators at an academic institution to start a breast cancer survivorship care program. We developed an SCP template that is CoC-complaint and responsive to input gathered in 2 focus groups with breast cancer survivors (n = 12) and interviews with staff (n = 8). Oncologists and nurses identified and referred English-speaking women who had completed breast cancer treatment. Participants completed baseline measures prior to receiving individualized SCPs in a survivorship consultation visit with a dedicated APN. In response to high no-show rates, we expanded clinic scheduling to harmonize with participants' other medical appointments. Interim feasibility results for our ongoing study are presented here. Results: A total of 154 patients were screened to reach target enrollment (n= 80) within 20 months. Participant median age was 60 ± 11; 71% were African American, 14% Hispanic; 11% Non-Hispanic White and 92% had household incomes < $20,000. Average times were: 30 ± 13.4 minutes for abstracting patient clinical information in preparation for the survivorship visit; 25 ± 16 minutes for completing individual SCPs; 22±7.65 minutes to review / deliver the SCPs with patients. The difference in no-show rate between first 3-month recruitment period (clinic limited to one day/week) and next 17 months (clinic appointment expanded to accommodate patients' schedule) was statistically significant, p = 0.028. Conclusions: Tailoring SCP templates and delivery models to the needs of a safety net hospital aided the sustainability of a new survivorship clinic. Patient non-adherence to scheduled visits was significantly improved by expanding clinic hours. Significant clinician time was spent preparing SCPs and a level 4 visit (25 minutes) does not adequately reflect this effort. This study is funded by the American Cancer Society, Illinois Division (Grant# 254698).

Survivors Overcoming and Achieving Resilience (SOAR): An 8-week breast cancer survivorship and nutrition program.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e24025-e24025
Author(s):  
Poorvi Kirit Desai ◽  
Diane Riccardi ◽  
Heewon L. Gray ◽  
Sonya Pflanzer ◽  
Zachary Thompson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Cancer Survivorship ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Emotional Health ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Grocery Store ◽  
Healthy Foods ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivorship ◽  
Patient Reported

e24025 Background: The American Cancer Society (ACS) published Diet and Physical Activity Guidelines in 2020. Emerging evidence suggests that healthy dietary patterns are associated with reduced cancer risk, especially colon and breast. ACS estimates there are 3.5 million breast cancer survivors in the US. The transition from active treatment into survivorship is a critical period where they are uniquely positioned to adapt healthy behaviors, yet there is a lack of empirical research to best guide the transition. Methods: We developed an 8-week breast cancer survivorship program to educate and develop healthy habits. 40 participants were recruited through Moffitt breast and survivorship clinics, social media, and website. Weekly topics were: cancer survivorship, nutrition, emotional health and well-being, exercise, medical management after treatment, grocery store tour, meditation and mindful eating, and moving forward. To assess health-related quality of life (QoL), we used FACT-G Version 4, a validated patient-reported survey with 27 questions and 4 domains of wellbeing (physical, social/family, emotional, and functional) on a 5-point Likert scale (not at all to very much). Similarly, a nutrition questionnaire evaluated the understanding of healthy choices, confidence in making healthy changes, knowing how to purchase healthy foods and read nutrition labels, confidence in preparing healthy foods, and understanding of a plant-based diet. Surveys were administered pre- and post-intervention. Data analysis included those who completed both (n = 30). Pt characteristics and data trends were summarized using descriptive statistics. Paired Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to assess the significance of the change in scores between surveys. Results: Participant ages ranged from 41 to 77. The majority (34.5%) completed treatment 13-24 months prior. Compared to baseline, greater proportions of participants had positive responses after intervention in all nutrition questions. The nutrition sum was significantly increased by 3.07 (p = 0.0001). There was no significant change in overall QoL (-1.77; p = 0.1178) or sub-domain wellbeing scores. Conclusions: Our 8-week intervention for breast cancer survivors showed significant improvement in nutrition domain. While a small sample size is limiting, it is evident that survivors can improve their confidence in making healthy changes and develop better understanding of a plant-based diet.[Table: see text]

Webinars as a tool for breast cancer survivorship education.

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (26_suppl) ◽  
pp. 109-109
Author(s):  
Elissa Thorner Bantug ◽  
Katherine E. Duffey ◽  
Kimberly S. Peairs ◽  
Linda A. Lee ◽  
Jeffery M. Gould ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Survivorship ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Information Quality ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivorship ◽  
Health Maintenance ◽  
Diverse Audience

109 Background: Survivorship education may facilitate coordination of care between the patient and health care providers, increase adherence to health maintenance recommendations, and improve outcomes. Approximately 80% of Americans regularly use the internet. Interactive seminars (webinars) may offer an efficient tool to reach a diverse audience of cancer survivors, caregivers, and providers. Methods: From September 2012-April 2013, we offered 3 free 1-hour webinars advertised via social media, print flyers, email, newsletters, and advocacy and support groups. Topics included next steps after breast cancer treatment, integrative medicine, and nutrition. Participants registered online or by phone. Format consisted of a 30-minute lecture followed by live Q&A with electronically submitted questions. Demographic data were collected at registration and participants were asked to complete a brief 9-question survey after the webinar. Results: 728 participants registered for at least 1 webinar (median age 56, range 18-81 years; 14% African American). 681 participants were U.S.-based and 47 joined from 21 other countries. Participants self-identified as a cancer survivor (71%), provider (20%), caregiver (8%), or other (2%). Most (79%) had at least a high school education. Among the 184 (25%) who completed the post-webinar survey, 86% reported that information was relevant to situation, 85% said they had the opportunity to ask questions, 94% felt speakers were knowledgeable, and 90% were satisfied with the information quality. Participants ranked one-on-one care followed by webinars as their preferred way to receive survivorship information, above other tools like videos, websites, and handouts. Conclusions: As part of a multidisciplinary approach to breast cancer survivorship care, webinars are a feasible modality to deliver quality health information. Limitations include overall generalizability with a potential selection bias of those who may be more educated than the general population, have access to the internet, and feel comfortable with this technology. Nonetheless, data suggest that this format may allow us to reach a diverse audience that appears receptive and satisfied with survivorship education provided in an electronic format.

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