Help scientists understand cancer, cancer treatments and living with cancer as a chronic, manageable disease.
Why Is this Important Cancer Survivorship Research?
From conducting several research projects as principal investigator, I know that many cancer survivors, such as yourself, want to contribute to the field of oncology. Your participation in Mary Free Bed’s research project (explained below) will help scientists to understand cancer, cancer treatments; treatment’s effects, and living with cancer as a chronic, manageable disease.
To meet this understanding, the Betty Bloomer Ford Cancer Rehabilitation Program at Mary Free Bed is partnering with you to achieve and maintain a healthier lifestyle in cancer survivorship.
The Cancer + Wellness pilot study is funded through Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital and a grant from the Michigan Department of Community Health.
While participation is free of charge, you will be asked to take part in a 12 session research study that consists of your taking part in a weekly yoga session and one hour of cooking and tasting demonstration.
The research team further asks that you participate in a follow-up class at 3 months and at 6 months after completion of the 12 session program. The follow-up sessions are important to find out about the long-term effects on your quality of life of this program.
What are the Study Eligibility Requirements?
You are eligible to take part if you are a cancer survivor and 18 years or older. It helps to reiterate the definitions ACEF has adopted for cancer survivor and cancer survivorship:
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship ([NCCS], 1996) was the first organization to pioneer the term cancer survivor. According to the NCCS definition of the term, cancer survivor is a label stuck with you from the time of cancer diagnosis through the rest of your life.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention interprets cancer survivorship as a dynamic process of living with, through, and beyond a diagnosis of cancer (2004).
The National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) (2004) Office of Cancer Survivorship added family members, friends, and caregivers (as secondary survivors) in this definition.
There you go, anytime you see cancer survivor or cancer survivorship mentioned on this website, it is within the context of the above definitions. As you can gather from the definitions above, it is also important that scientists understand the effects cancer has on loved ones and/or caregivers. The investigators behind the Cancer + Wellness research project are aiming to learn about this relationship as well by including your caregiver (support person) in this study.
Mary Free Bed invites you and your caregiver to take part in this 12-session food and yoga program designed to improve your quality of life. No matter where you are in your cancer journey – newly diagnosed, in treatment or post treatment – please consider participating in this research project. Each session is limited to a total of 20 people.
How do You Register for this Study?
You can register today by emailing Stephanie Thornton at stephanie.thornton@maryfreebed.com or by calling Stephanie at 616.840.8186. Please select option 3.
The Elevator Pitch of the Cancer and Wellness Study
WHO:
- Cancer survivor (recall the above definition) and a loved one and/or caregiver, both over the age of 18.
WHAT:
- Nutrition: One hour cooking demonstration and tasting with a focus on healthy foods, advice on food choices and an examination of lifestyle factors.
- Yoga: A one-hour class of stretching, exercise, and meditation to reduce fatigue, improve balance, boost endurance and enhance your overall quality of life.
Where:
- Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids
1806 Bridge St. NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
When:
- Every Monday between April 13 and July 6, 2015
- Session 1: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
- Session 2: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- Every Monday between July 13 and October 5, 2015
- Session 3: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
- Session 4: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
To clarify the above schedule, if you qualify for this research project, you will only be asked to participate in one of the 4 sessions.
Regardless of what session you pick or are assigned to, you most definitely will be in excellent company.
Your Clinical Team
Your nutritional needs will be addressed by Brooke DeBeck, M.A., R.D. oncology nutritionist, Mick Von Doxtater holistic chef, and Wendy Borden, M.S., holistic nutritionist. Mick and Wendy are from the Revive & Thrive Project, where I serve on the Board of Directors.
Your gentle yoga practice will happen under the watchful eye of Ayurvedic yoga therapist Michele Fife.
Think You Meet the Study’s Eligibility Criteria?
Email or pick-up the phone now to contact Stephanie Thornton. You can reach her at stephanie.thornton@maryfreebed.com or by calling 616.840.8186 to find out all the details on how to advance science while being pampered by experts in nutrition and yoga during this very important research project.
ACEF and I strongly urge you to consider participating in Mary Free Bed’s Yoga, Food & Friends Cancer and Wellness research project.
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2004). A national action plan for cancer survivorship: Advancing public health strategies. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/survivorship/what_cdc_is_doing/action_plan.htm
National Cancer Institute. (2004). About survivorship research: Survivorship definitions. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary?cdrid=445089
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship. (1996). Imperatives for quality cancer care: Access, advocacy, action, and accountability. Silver Spring, MD