CentraState - Healthy Directions

Getting the Stories out on Colorectal Cancer about the experience of cancer survivors. In late 2011, they conducted a Phenomenological Study of Male Colorectal Cancer Survivors with the goal of determining common themes as well as learning how the experience changed patients' lives. R "We wanted to identify common themes that depict the experience," says Janice Breen, RN, PhD, clinical research manager, CentraState. "Has colorectal cancer changed their lives? Their views of life?" The gender-specific study comes on the heels of a similar study in 2010 of female colorectal cancer survivors. For both studies, the cancer registry sent letters to potential participants; Breen notes that most of the survivors who were contacted were very willing to participate. Aside from being given a gift of a journal at the end of the study, participants were not remunerated. "They wanted to tell their stories," she says. The male study included 12 men, all of whom had survived cancer for at least three years. The subjects had to be over age 18; no one under age 50 participated. In setting up the studies, "We felt it was important to focus on gender," says Michele Langevin, RN, MSN, nurse manager and principal investigator of the studies. "Initially we focused on females. We were curious to see if the results would be similar in males." In the female study, participants were interviewed by female nurses. In the male study, researchers believed participants would feel more comfortable speaking with a male nurse. "The idea was to get information from them on what it was like to be a survivor of colorectal cancer," says Carl Ausfahl, RN, MS, assistant vice president, Quality and Performance esearch teams at CentraState Medical Center are recognizing the value of gathering information Improvement, and one of four nurses who conducted the tape-recorded interviews. "We let them explain their overall experience with cancer and what it means to be a cancer survivor," says interviewer Robert Braun, RN, MA, MEd, assistant vice president, Cancer Care Services. In the male study, Ausfahl says, "We had the opportunity to compare notes [with the interviewers from the female study]; there are some striking differences that appear to be gender based." The next study planned will explore these differences. StudyinG the ReSultS The goal of the studies was to determine common themes among survivors. Breen says several themes emerged in the female study: • Listen to your body even if symptoms are subtle. • The need for (and possible lack of) support. • Nobody wants to talk about colon cancer—there is a stigma related to colorectal cancer. • It never goes away. There is always a fear of recurrence. • Moving forward led to positive attitudes. All expressed an interest in protecting their families—both from being a burden to them as well as monitoring their health. "Most of them became real advocates, encouraging their families to get colonoscopies," Breen says. The Clinical Research team at CentraState: First row (left to right): Jan Dragotta, RT, Carl Ausfahl, RN, MS, Janice Breen, RN, PhD. Standing (left to right): Heba Farra Darwish, MPH, Jennifer Beukers, RN, Michele Langevin, RN, Maryann Cole, RN-C • Having cancer was a life-changing event physically and emotionally. • All felt grateful for having survived. Researchers note that men and women are equally at risk for colon cancer. The key, Ausfahl says, "Like all cancers, the earlier you diagnose and treat, the better the prognosis. It is survivable." Regular colonoscopies are recommended for men and women starting at age 50 for those with no family history of cancer or earlier for those with a family history. For more information about the Colon and Rectal Cancer Program at CentraState, or to find cancer specialists who treat colon cancer and rectal cancer, please visit www.centrastate.com/cancer or call (855) 411-CANCER. HD 4 March/April 2012 Healthy Directions

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