scholarly journals Empowering Cancer Survivors to Become Mentors, and Leaders Through Various Workshops and Programs

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement 2) ◽  
pp. 174s-174s ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Mohamed
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Program ◽  
Support Programs ◽  
Positive Outcomes ◽  
Cancer Support ◽  
Program Policy ◽  
Hospital Visits ◽  
Selection Of

Background and context: Friends of Cancer Patients UAE conducts various moral support programs for cancer patients, one of which is the “Color My World” program, which focuses on provide moral support to predominantly men and women, who have undergone, or are currently undergoing treatment of cancer. Aim: The aim is to empower cancer survivors to become leaders and mentors to other ladies/men currently undergoing treatment, and to establish a survivor led support program, as a result of these various programs and workshops. Strategy/Tactics: We believe that to for such a program to be a success, you need to understand your target group, their interests, as well as their backgrounds. A needs assessment needs to be conducted prior to the selection of workshops, whether through direct interviews with the patients, or internally by examining the different support programs available in the country, and what is available/not available. Program/Policy process: There are numerous workshops that take place throughout the year, and they are divided as follows: - There are workshops that focus on healthy living, and the importance of a healthy diet, which involves numerous cooking workshops, and educational sessions. - There are workshops that focus on skin care and make-up, where the ladies are taught how to take care of themselves by certified stylists and makeup artists. - Those who are interested in crochet and handicrafts, have the chance to take part in group workshops, or in focused 1 to 1 sessions. Outcomes: There are a number of positive outcomes that came about from our attempts to empower cancer survivors, the ones we believe are worth of being highlighted are: - A group of survivors are now leading, and running a cancer support program, that visits hospitals within the UAE, to visit those currently undergoing treatment, to provide support, and assist those still undergoing treatment in any way possible. - Many of the ladies, who attended previous workshops, will now start to lead similar workshops during hospital visits to children and women with cancer. What was learned: Cancer survivors must be the driving force in providing support to other cancer patients, and the existing model of the support groups can be linked with the educational workshops, to not only provide moral support, but also social support to the cancer patient.

Attitudes toward Technology-Based Cancer Support Programs Among Korean American Breast Cancer Survivors

2020 ◽  
pp. 019394592097402
Author(s):  
Eun-Ok Im ◽  
Sangmi Kim ◽  
Mia Jang ◽  
Wonshik Chee
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Korean American ◽  
Support Programs ◽  
Attitudes Toward Technology ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Future Technology ◽  
Cancer Support ◽  
Group Interviews

Despite the increasing usages of technology-based programs, few technology-based support programs are currently available for racial/ethnic minority cancer survivors including Korean-American cancer survivors. The purpose of this study was to explore the attitudes toward technology-based cancer support programs among Korean-American cancer survivors from a feminist perspective. In-person focus group interviews were held with 17 Korean-American cancer survivors. All the interviews were recorded by writing memos. Then, the written memos were analyzed using a content analysis. Four major themes reflecting their attitudes toward technology-based cancer-support programs were identified: (a) “easy to access”; (b) “good for peer and family support,” (c) “overcoming language barriers,” and (d) “providing Korean-specific and personalized trustable information.” Future technology-based cancer support groups for this specific population need to incorporate peer support, support for family members, Korean language, and Korea-specific information and intervention components.

scholarly journals Review of the Nutrition Guidance Irish Healthcare and Charitable Organisations and Cancer Centres provide for Cancer Patients and Cancer Survivors.

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (OCE2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Keaver ◽  
Leah Walsh ◽  
Helen Callaghan ◽  
Christine Houlihan
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Nutrition Information ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Cancer Support ◽  
Nutritional Guidance ◽  
Cancer Support Groups

AbstractBackground: A cancer diagnosis presents a potential teachable moment however, evidence-based information, guidance and support all need to be available in order to capitalise on this. Health care professionals report providing little advice in this area. Previous work has shown that cancer survivors tend to prefer statutory and recognised charitable centres and groups. It is therefore important to determine what nutrition information is available on these websites as otherwise this group may turn to less reliable sources of informationObjective: To determine the availability, quality and readability of nutrition information for cancer patients and survivors from Irish healthcare organisations, cancer charity and support groupsMethods: Organisations were located using three search strategies: 1) We first sought to identify any nutrition information for cancer patients or survivors provided by the Irish Health Service Executive (HSE), 2) To identify suitable organisations the word “cancer” was searched for in the search engine of the Benefacts (official register of charitable organisations) website. The ten largest organisations were included and 3) an additional internet search was conducted using the terms ‘cancer charities Ireland’ and ‘cancer support groups Ireland’. The first two pages of results were assessed. The quality of the nutrition information was determined using the adapted IPDAS tool. Readability testing was carried out on the websites where nutrition information was available usingResults: A total of 32 websites were assessed. Of these only five provided any form of nutrition guidance for cancer patients with three of these five also providing some guidance for cancer survivors. The guidance provided centred on guidelines and lacked practical strategies for their implementation. The quality of the information provided ranged from 19.5–29 out of a maximum of 40. The readability level required to understand the information ranged from 11–17 years of age.Conclusion: There is a need for nutritional guidance to be provided by national health and cancer related organisations and for this information to be specific to the cohort e.g. patient vs survivor. There is also a need for practical strategies to make the translation of guidelines into practice easy for patients and survivors.

FOCUS

2019 ◽  
pp. 130-148
Author(s):  
Laurel Northouse ◽  
Clayton Shuman ◽  
Moira Visovatti ◽  
Bonnie Dockham ◽  
Marita Titler
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Positive Outcomes ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Cancer Support ◽  
Different Types

This chapter describes the development and testing of the FOCUS program with patient-caregiver dyads (i.e., pairs) as the unit of care. The chapter reviews studies that examined (1) the efficacy of the FOCUS program when tested in randomized clinical trials, (2) the effectiveness of the program when implemented in Cancer Support Community affiliates in three states, and (3) outcomes when translated to a tailored, web-based program. Results indicate that FOCUS consistently produced positive outcomes for cancer patients and their caregivers in these studies. The program also improved patient and caregiver outcomes when delivered to patients with different types and stages of cancer, to spousal and nonspousal family caregivers, and in various intervention doses (three-, five-, and six-session programs). The chapter concludes with plans for further implementation of FOCUS and existing dissemination activities.

scholarly journals Why Don’t Cancer Survivors Attend Cancer Support Groups in Toronto

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Tsorng-Yeh Lee ◽  
Beryl Pilkington ◽  
Grace Ho
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Normal Person ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Cancer Support ◽  
Cancer Support Groups ◽  
Chinese Cancer Survivors ◽  
Depth Interviews

Background: Cancer is the leading cause of death for both men and women in Canada. Professionally or nonprofessionally led support groups have been recognized as a significant source of psychosocial support for cancer survivors. However, the participation rate was low and reasons for leaving a support group were not explored fully. Purpose: To explore the reasons why Chinese cancer survivors left or did not attend a cancer support group in Toronto. Methods: In-depth individual qualitative interviews were conducted. Five Chinese cancer survivors participated in in-depth interviews. Colaizzi’s phenomenological method was used to analyze the interview data. Results: Four themes were extracted from the in-depth interviews: “not fit in”, “not satisfied with the information provided”, “tried to be a normal person”, and “lack reliable transportation and convenient scheduling”. Conclusion: Cancer support groups can improve cancer survivors’ physical and psychosocial outcomes. The services can also help cancer survivors to obtain health related information and connect with professionals and peers. In recognizing the reasons why cancer survivors left support groups, health-care providers need to evaluate and be aware of the needs and difficulties for cancer survivors to attend support groups. They should match cancer survivors with appropriate groups. More language-friendly groups need to be launched, so cancer patients can easily find a suitable one from their neighborhood. 

scholarly journals Breast Cancer Support Group at Ocean Road Cancer Institute in Dar es Salaam

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement 2) ◽  
pp. 178s-178s
Author(s):  
S. Nyagabona ◽  
F. Rubagumya ◽  
A. Longombe ◽  
A. Manirakiza ◽  
T. Maniragaba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Cancer Education ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Cancer Support

Background and context: Breast cancer is a common type of cancer among women worldwide, with about 2 million new cases diagnosed in the yearly. It is the second common cancer and leading cause of cancer mortality among women in Tanzania, after cervical cancer. More than 70% of breast cancer patients in developed countries are diagnosed at early stages, whereas in low and middle-income countries, only 20%–60% of patients are diagnosed early. Physician in developed countries consults on average 15-20 breast cancer patients daily, while in developing countries the number triples. This high load does not allow a treating physician to spend ample time with patients explaining hence leaving patients not informed about their diagnosis, side effects of treatments and even living with the physical, emotional and psychological challenges of their disease. Residents at the Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI), initiated a patient support group targeting breast cancer patients for feasibility. Aim: Provide forum for patients with same diagnosis to share common challenges Provide peer emotional, psychosocial support and cancer education Organize activities that will help to spread awareness to the community Initiate projects to improve socioeconomic status of breast cancer survivors in Tanzania Strategy/Tactics: Involved the ORCI administration from the beginning Involved the academic and research unit of ORCI Residents prepared session curriculum and teaching materials Sessions took place once a month Sessions were two hours long divided into three components, where the first is introduction of participants, then survivors led discussions or lectures prepared by an expert in the topic and lastly closing remarks by a physician Breakfast was provided Program/Policy process: Open membership for all breast cancer patients Physician lead face to face peer discussions Institutional acknowledgment of the support group Provision of primary registry of patients for follow-up Provision of a link to other social organizations Outcomes: Increase knowledge of cancer in general and breast cancer in particular A total of seven sessions were held to date For each session, participation ranged from 30-50 breast cancer survivors, and on average attendance was 4 sessions out of 7 Topics covered over a period of seven months included Coping with a cancer diagnosis and treatment Living with cancer and its changes to daily life Exercise Nutrition Breast cancer general knowledge Collaboration with other stake holders including IST secondary school students who initiated breast prosthesis knitting club What was learned: A need to reach out and give psycho-social support to ORCI patients Through education we can improve treatment adherence Possible partners are available if we reach out Exist a need to address misconceptions in the community so as to avoid stigma to patients.

scholarly journals The Forms and Uses of Acquired Prostate Cancer Expertise Among Prostate Cancer Survivors

2020 ◽  
pp. 136078042090584
Author(s):  
Richard Green
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
The South ◽  
Prostate Cancer Survivors ◽  
Cancer Support ◽  
Cancer Support Groups ◽  
Patient Expertise ◽  
Moral Discourses

This article examines men’s prostate cancer experiences through the lens of patient expertise. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 29 men treated for prostate cancer, recruited from two prostate cancer support groups (PCSGs) in the South-East of England. Different forms of expertise, as classified by Collins, were found to be possessed by these men. How these different forms of expertise were acquired, used, and shared with others are explored, and a concept of communal licensing is posited to better understand these activities. The acquisition and usage of these different forms of expertise, through the employment of moral discourses that emphasise responsibility for one’s own health, are found to serve to blur the boundaries between lay person and expert.

The effect of sukshma vyayama joint loosening yoga on aromatase inhibitor-induced arthralgia (AI) in breast cancer patients: A feasibility study conducted on Facebook.

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e23129-e23129
Author(s):  
L. Leigh Leibel ◽  
Kashinath G. Metri ◽  
Rajendra Prasad ◽  
J. Gregory Mears
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Joint Pain ◽  
Therapeutic Modality ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Cancer Support ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Cancer Care Continuum ◽  
Study Intervention

e23129 Background: AI therapy causes joint pain in up to half of women, and up to 20% become non-compliant with treatment due to pain and discomfort. This pilot study investigated the efficacy of sukshma vyayama in improving AI-induced joint pain and evaluated the feasibility of delivering the intervention on Facebook. Methods: Breast cancer patients undergoing treatment with AI's with self-reported arthralgia were recruited via an IRB-approved announcement posted in two closed breast cancer support groups on Facebook to participate in a yoga study delivered on Facebook. Participants completed BPI, DASH, PRAI and WOMAC questionnaires before and after the study. Intervention consisted of 12 joint loosening exercises performed in a chair, once daily for 12 minutes, Monday-Friday for 4 weeks. Asynchronous video demonstrations were available in a secret Facebook group and viewing confirmed by typing "done" (time-stamped) in comments. Results: 200 women responded. 38 met the inclusion criteria/consent, 26 completed the online consent, interventions and pre/post questionnaires. Paired simple t tests results showed significant (P < 0.05) improvement in all the pain measures and quality of life parameters after yoga intervention compared to baseline. Conclusions: This study provides the first evidence that it is feasible to teach sukshma vyayama to patients on Facebook and that the intervention significantly improves AI-induced arthralgia. Teaching yoga via social media may provide better access to this therapeutic modality to patients at all points in the cancer care continuum globally. [Table: see text]

Use of cancer support groups among Latina breast cancer survivors

2007 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 193-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna M. Nápoles-Springer ◽  
Carmen Ortíz ◽  
Helen O’Brien ◽  
Marynieves Díaz-Méndez ◽  
Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Cancer Support ◽  
Cancer Support Groups

scholarly journals Experience and Impact of a Locally-Based Peer, Volunteer Cancer Support Programme in Hospital Melaka, Melaka Malaysia

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement 2) ◽  
pp. 113s-113s
Author(s):  
M. Chua ◽  
V. Silvathorai ◽  
M. Muniasamy ◽  
H.S. Mohd Hashim ◽  
C. Lim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Waiting Times ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
Support Program ◽  
Care Process ◽  
Treatment Center ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Cancer Support

Background: Melaka is a small southern state in Peninsular Malaysia. On average, the state has an annual incidence of 200 odd breast cancer patients, largely treated out of its public, subsidized, single tertiary treatment center of Hospital Melaka. Hospital Melaka is an 800-bedded hospital with multiple specialties including surgery and radiology. Though the hospital does not have a dedicated oncology department, cancer treatment is carried out via phone consultations and visiting oncologists as well as a team of on-site nursing staff who are trained to initiate and monitor treatment. Feedback from Hospital Melaka staff highlighted that there was a drop-out rate of about 30% of patients from the treatment journey. Qualitative interviews with different stakeholders including patient revealed that the drop-out may be driven by factors such as: i) fear of surgery, ii) fear of chemotherapy, iii) fear of disfigurement, iv) loss of spouse v) emotional distress and shock; and vi) delay in waiting times for different levels of diagnostics and treatment. Aim: The aim of the initiative was to reduce the rate of patients who defaulted out from the cancer treatment journey via a three-pronged approach: a) improving understanding about cancer and treatment by patients and family members; b) integrating peer-support into the clinical treatment pathway at the hospital and reduction of waiting times; and c) maintaining a continuous interaction with the patient throughout the treatment journey. Methods: The inception and deployment of a locally-based peer, volunteer support program for breast cancer patients and families as part of the formal cancer treatment process in Hospital Melaka. Volunteers were consisted of a trained mix of cancer survivors, current and retired healthcare practitioners and provided information pertaining to treatment and care aspects of breast cancer as well as emotional support and follow-up of patients via phone or in person to ensure compliance to treatment. In this study, we engaged with various stakeholders including hospital management and clinicians. Then, support group's services were formalized into the care pathway for all patients with breast cancer; with both volunteers able to send and receive patient referrals. Results: Statistically significant reductions in patient delays in decision-making to seek treatment as well as a significant decrease of 12.5% in the number of defaulters. Conclusion: A support program built with support from all stakeholders and run by volunteers and embedded within the formal care process acts as a catalyst to enhance both service delivery as well as keeping patients engaged on the cancer care journey.

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