POST TRAUMATIC GROWTH STUDY II*

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gratefulsurvivor2008
gratefulsurvivor2008 Member Posts: 14
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer

Dear Fellow Survivors,

My name is Sue Gallagher-Ross and I am a two-year breast cancer survivor as well as a doctoral student in counseling psychology at Fordham University in New York City. I am conducting dissertation research related to breast cancer survivorship and I am interested in finding breast cancer survivors to participate in my study.

This project recognizes that every woman's experience with cancer is unique. Please lend your voice in helping to increase medical and mental health professionals' understanding of women's adjustment to living with cancer.

The study is completely anonymous and takes approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. I am seeking survivors who have been diagnosed at a minimum time frame of 6 months ago and a maximum time frame of 5 years. If you meet this criteria and would like to participate, please click on the following link:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PM62B8Y

Thanks so much in advance for your interest and contribution.Emotions

*Please note: This study was originally posted on July 21, 2009 and was approved by the moderators. In recent weeks, I have received permission from my dissertation committee to make the survey completely anonymous and expand the eligibility criteria from women who were 2 years or less posttreatment to women 6 months to 5 years postdiagnosis.

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  • photogirl
    photogirl Member Posts: 1
    edited February 2010

    I am very happy that you are doing this research. I've seen other studies with BCS that focuses ALOT on anxiety and depression, but yours really looks at the whole person. I also think that your aim of trying to give doctors and therapists a better idea of how cancer affects women's lives is right on. Good luck to you and I hope you'll come back and share your findings.

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  • Frankie_
    Frankie_ Member Posts: 422
    edited February 2010
    Gratefulsurvior2008 - FYI I went on to complete the survey and could not proceed to page 2 as page #1 Q #5 indicated an answer (although I filled in an answer). Had to exit the survey as I was not able to proceed. Not sure if anyone else experienced this same problem.
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  • gratefulsurvivor2008
    gratefulsurvivor2008 Member Posts: 14
    edited February 2010

    Hi Frankie,

    I'm sorry you have had trouble with the survey! I checked it out and it seems to be working OK. I really appreciate your participation and, if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to invite you to try again. Please feel free to contact me via my personal contact info. provided in the informed consent if you encounter any more difficulty. Thank you again Laughing

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  • gratefulsurvivor2008
    gratefulsurvivor2008 Member Posts: 14
    edited February 2010
    Thank you for your kind words and feedback. I would be more than happy to share my results once I have completed my study. Hopefully that will be soon as over 125 women have graciously contributed their time to participating in my survey, and I need only 46 more to do so. Thank you again for your interest and participation. I wish you continued good healthCool
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  • ananda8
    ananda8 Member Posts: 2,755
    edited February 2010

    I took the survey and will be very interested in the results.  Can you share your preliminary hypothesis with us now?

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  • ananda8
    ananda8 Member Posts: 2,755
    edited February 2010

    You may want to add some questions regarding diagnosis and prognosis.  The correlation to the other questions could be interesting

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  • gratefulsurvivor2008
    gratefulsurvivor2008 Member Posts: 14
    edited February 2010

    That's a really good idea! While it's too late to include in my current research, I think it would be a great suggestion to include in the "directions for future research" section in my dissertation. Thanks again!

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  • gratefulsurvivor2008
    gratefulsurvivor2008 Member Posts: 14
    edited February 2010

    Thank you very much for contributing to my research,notself! While I wouldn't want to influence anyone's responses by stating my exact hypothesis, I'd be happy to discuss it in general terms as well as share what influenced me to embark on this project. Two years ago, I was unexpectedly diagnosed with BC as I was beginning the dissertation phase of my graduate training. I remember how distressing it was followed by the rollercoaster of emotions and feelings to which I think many women can relate. After the initial shock wore off and I had time to reflect on what had happened over several months, I also realized that I had experienced some positive changes interspersed with the fear and negative emotions that were also present.  For example, I learned that I am more vulnerable and the world is less predictable than I previously thought, but I feel more prepared and capable to face future challenges, both expected and unexpected.

    My personal experience evolved into a professional interest. To date, the majority of research in my field with cancer survivors has focused solely on negative outcomes such as anger, depression and anxiety. There is a growing body of research to suggest that many survivors also experience some positive outcomes, and that focusing solely on the negative may provide a narrow understanding of survivorship. Through my research, I am dedicated to helping medical and mental health professionals obtain an enhanced understanding of women's experience with cancer by examining adjustment in many important aspects if their lives. I want to thank you again for your participation, it is very much appreciated. I will also share my findings once my project is complete. I wish you continued good health and happiness:)

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