Improving Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Beyond Pain Management

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:

http://bit.ly/1NKyyhB