Cancer Survivors' Supportive Intervention Preferences

MTwoman

small 'n', but still interesting that they're doing some research into our preferences

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28792097

(the full article is beyond the dreaded paywall)

ShetlandPony

MTwoman, thank you for posting this. It is good news that researchers are interested in this question.

Here is an excerpt from the abstract:

"...cancer survivors rated individual professional counseling as their most-preferred form of psychological intervention, p < .001, followed by professionally-led cancer support groups and individual peer counseling. Anti-depressant or other psychiatric medication represented their least-preferred intervention (among 6 choices), ps < .001, but was the one they were most likely to currently receive."

MT, do you know what the other two interventions were?

It is pretty easy to get meds prescribed, as the abstract indicates. But the other interventions can be difficult or impossible to access. I believe all people diagnosed with cancer should be offered the opportunity to meet with a professional counselor with oncology experience, but there are not enough of these professionals. The hospital social workers cannot take on clients for regular sessions. I am a very resourceful person, and I had an extremely hard time finding the right support to help me find my balance after my mets diagnosis. (And insurance is set up to pay for mental illness treatment, not to promote mental wellness.) The few leads I got were for therapists who turned out to be full and not taking new patients. Most did not accept my insurance. I ended up traveling a great distance and paying out of pocket. The same with trying to find a stage iv support group. When after much research I found one, I had to travel very far, and eventually gave up attending because of that burden.

I'm interested in your thoughts on the article, MTwoman.

MTwoman

Shetland Pony,

I do so wish I could read the entire article, but it is behind a paywall. *sigh* I could also only see the 4 options for interventions, although further in the results paragraph they talked about preferences for who survivors most preferred to learn about psychological interventions from; so that (learning about psychological interventions) may have been one category.

I also believe that all people diagnosed with ca should have access to a professional counselor with experience. I actually met with a counselor without specific oncology experience, but she had seen me in the past, so that connection was most helpful for me at that time. But I did have an awesome nurse navigator, an active bc support group and I am myself a counselor. (so that certainly makes me biased towards thinking counseling can be helpful ) I have recently been trying to figure out if there is a way for me to be able to have a private practice working (almost exclusively) with women/men going through treatment (or struggling after treatment, which also seems pretty common). Given the advances in telemedicine, I'm just wondering if someone like me could help fill the void in areas where there aren't enough experienced professionals. Unfortunately, by the MT statutes, I am only allowed to (virtually) see people that are located in states where I have a license. (and I only have a license here) Other states may allow something different, but I have to go by the statutes here. Telemedicine also allows people to "see" a counselor from the privacy and convenience of their own homes, for times when they can't/don't want to go out. I have "seen" people this way, and haven't found it too difficult a transition. What would you have thought of "seeing" a counselor (who was experienced) on a secure telemedicine website?

ShetlandPony

I think that telemedicine could be a good option. I sent you a PM with a more detailed reply.

MTwoman

thanks!