Article
Improving Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Beyond Pain Management
Researchers at Dartmouth's Norris Cotton Cancer Center designed rehabilitation intervention to help women with breast cancer find ways to accelerate recovery and engage in health-promoting activities.
Taking the focus off pain management and specific post-treatment symptoms, and putting it on quality of life defined as "active engagement," a team from Dartmouth's Norris Cotton Cancer Center, led by Mark T. Hegel, PhD with first-author Kathleen D. Lyons, ScD, established and tested a new paradigm for working with breast cancer survivors. Published in the Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, "Development and Initial Evaluation of a Telephone-Delivered Behavioral Activation and Problem-solving Treatment Program to Address Functional Goals of Breast Cancer Survivors," covers 2 studies looking at feasibility and potential efficacy.
"Most breast cancer survivors bounce back well after treatment, but anywhere from a quarter to a third of them might benefit from rehabilitation interventions that help them accelerate recovery by finding and applying ways to engage in productive and health-promoting activities," explained Dr Lyons. "It was a complete pleasure and privilege to work with the study participants and give them a structure and some support while they found ways to create healthy and productive routines and lifestyles."
Link to the full press release:
