 "Photo: May-Ying Lam")
The last drop of chemotherapy has fallen from the IV drip bag and the bills are paid, but a black hole still engulfs cancer survivors.
Assistant professor of UT clinical nursing Martha Meraviglia is hoping to teach low-income cancer patients how to lead healthy lives and cope with the stressful disease after completing treatment.
Meraviglia received a $100,000, two-year grant from the National Cancer Institute - in conjunction with the Cain Center for Nursing Research and the Seton Cancer Care Team - to teach stress management techniques. Some of the best proven techniques include prayer and meditation. In addition, patients will learn the importance of exercising and eating right and how to build up a depleted immune system.
It is important to address the issue at hand and find ways to fight back, instead of letting cancer consume who a person is, Meraviglia said.
"If cancer survivors can feel a sense of control after a life-threatening illness, it will help them adapt better to the future," she said.
Meraviglia questioned 13 survivors about techniques they have explored during the post-diagnosis phase and which techniques were helpful. The questions included what healthy behaviors a patient followed after diagnosis and the barriers to adopting them.
Alexa Stuifbergen, associate dean for research at the Cain Center, will also monitor survivors' levels of physical activity and eating habits. A fitness instructor will teach each of the participants about effective exercise.
The researchers hope to determine if the cancer survivors incorporated the skills learned in class into their daily lifestyles. If so, the project may evolve into a bigger and more widespread program.
Human development and family sciences senior Ivy Ferguson, who was diagnosed with leukemia at age 9, is not one of the participants in Meraviglia's study but said she hopes to work with cancer patients after graduating.
Ferguson has been cancer-free for 10 years but said she did not start eating right or exercising until high school. She said her yearly check-ups with an oncologist made her more aware of behaviors she should be practicing, such as taking care of her heart, exercising and making sure she gets enough calcium.
"Now I am taking more steps toward preventative care," Ferguson said. "I think the classes are a really good idea, because having cancer makes you more likely to have other types of cancer in the future."
The classes are for patients in the Shrivers Cancer Center who are six months from the date of their diagnoses. All cancer patients are considered survivors at the time of their diagnosis.
Meraviglia said the six-month window is a critical time for patients because they are just finishing up treatment and can start living a new lifestyle.
"When they get out of treatment they feel abandoned," Meraviglia said. "We are having the classes at a time when they need more support."
Be the first to comment on this article!