UVA Health study to help rural cancer survivors post-treatment

CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. (WDBJ) - The University of Virginia Health System is striving to give cancer survivors a better quality of life after cancer treatments. Health experts are seeking participants for their new research study called weSurvive.

Cancer is a deadly disease that takes form in various places of the human body. Although many peoples’ fight with cancer ends, the odds of beating it are increasing due to advanced treatments and early detection. According to UVA Health, there are 18 million cancer survivors in the United States, but as Dr. Kathleen Porter explains, there’s a lack in the healthcare system for post-treatment support.

“This is something that is really important for us to be addressing, and also the evidence is showing that as people are getting through treatment, more and more they’re more likely to die of lifestyle-related diseases like cardiovascular disease, which are things that are diet and physical activity choices,” said UVA Cancer Center PhD RD Kathleen Porter.

Through a new study, UVA Health is aiming to fill that gap. Developed in collaboration with stakeholders from Southwest Virginia and backed by an American Cancer Society grant, the weSurvive program is designed to help cancer survivors make personalized changes to their nutrition and physical activity.

“The program itself, weSurvive is 6 months but by joining the study because this is part of a research study it’s a 12-month commitment. It’s about 15 hours over those 12 months. It’s all telehealth-based and what that means is you can do it from the comfort of your own home. Over those 6 months there’s eight group classes, 3 individual coaching calls and folks can also get supportive text messages during the week,” said Porter.

Porter said the idea of weSurvive is to learn about behaviors, get support from others, but also realize survivors can make their own personal changes. She said the program is key for survivors in rural areas.

“We know that folks who live in more rural areas and live in more Appalachian areas have poorer outcomes from cancer than others. So, this is just another tool in the belt for this region and the cancer survivors in this region beat those odds and continue to live their best,” said Porter.

It’s free to adult cancer survivors living in or near Appalachian counties in Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and Kentucky.

The outcome of the study could determine how healthcare systems move forward with the weSurvive program and post-cancer treatments in the future.

To learn more, interested cancer survivors can complete an eligibility screener by:

• Visiting the weSurvive Eligibility Screener website
• Calling Breanna Foreman at (434) 235-1112.

Organizations or individuals connected to local cancer survivors who are interested in being partners for recruitment efforts can also contact Foreman.

Copyright 2024 WDBJ. All rights reserved.