| For immediate release: Feb. 7, 2012 |
Contact:
Sandra Larson, 970.237.7105, sjl2@pvhs.org
|
Poudre Valley Health System is offering a new program to help cancer survivors make the transition from active treatment to post-treatment care. Developed by the Cancer Support Community and LIVESTRONG, the program was created to bridge the gap between cancer treatment and life following cancer.
This is an important health care gap because according to a 2007 Institute of Medicine report, the 12 million cancer survivors in the U.S. face a heavy physical and psychological burden as they transition from cancer patient to survivor. In fact, cancer is increasingly being viewed for many as a chronic illness. A new report issued by the Institute of Medicine in 2008 recognized this paradigm shift of the impact on cancer on the entire family. The report, entitled Cancer Care for the Whole Patient, states that "Good quality health care must attend to patients' psychosocial problems and provide services to enable them to better manage their illnesses and underlying health." This new program, Cancer Transitions: Moving Beyond TreatmentTM, will start February 18 to help fill this critical gap.
"This much needed program, which is offered at no cost to participants, will provide northern Colorado cancer survivors with information and tools to make the transition into living a full and productive life as a survivor," said Marianne Pearson, an oncology social worker at Poudre Valley Cancer Network and Cancer Transitions facilitator. "Specifically, the program addresses exercise, nutrition, emotional health, quality of life and medical management after cancer treatment ends."
The six sessions will be held Saturdays starting February 18 at 9:30 a.m. at Poudre Valley Hospital. Expert panelists at the six sessions will include physicians, nutritionists and fitness experts who will discuss various topics. These subjects include:
• Exercise after treatment
• Specialized nutrition for people after cancer treatment
• The need for continued emotional and social support
• Medical effects of cancer treatment and long-term medical management.
"In order to improve the quality of life of people affected by cancer, it is essential to provide effective and appropriate patient care across the cancer continuum," said Andy Miller, vice president of programs and policy for LIVESTRONG. "The Cancer Support Community has been an ideal partner to develop this program. They have a proven track record of implementing evidenced-based programs that are relevant to the needs of communities and highly beneficial for cancer survivors."
For more information or to register for Cancer Transitions, contact Audrey Heaton at 970-297-6176 or afh@pvhs.org. In addition to the launch program , three, six-week series will be held through 2012. More information will also be provided when the future sessions are scheduled.
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