a post-treatment supportive service program for the transition into survivorship for black women breast cancer survivors in western new york

Conditions: Breast Carcinoma

Summary: this clinical trial studies whether a post-treatment supportive service program can be used to help black women breast cancer survivors in western new york (wny) transition into post-treatment life (survivorship). programming for black cancer survivors in wny is crucially needed. poverty and cancer have affected the region for years. the post-treatment supportive service program is delivered to black women breast cancer survivors of wny. it combines group support sessions and one-on-one (1:1) peer mentoring sessions. the group support sessions include traditional support groups, educational topics/lessons, activities, such as cooking lessons, celebrations, or facility tours, and guest speakers. the 1:1 peer mentoring sessions are held with a long-term breast cancer survivor mentor. the long-term breast cancer survivor mentor helps the mentee get in the practice of performing once monthly self-assessments and create plans to help improve any identified modifiable risk factors. the long-term breast cancer survivor mentor can also help connect the mentee to providers or resources as needed. a post-treatment supportive service program may help black women breast cancer survivors in wny transition into survivorship.

primary objective: i. design, develop, and deliver a no-cost, culturally appropriate, community-engaged, evidence-based, easily accessible, multilevel program to one hundred black women who are breast cancer survivors in wny during their transitions into post-treatment life. secondary objectives: i. determine the feasibility and acceptability of the newly generated survivorship programming. ii. prepare for future dissemination and implementations at other national witness project® (nwp) sites. exploratory objectives: i. examinations of: ia. program participants overall health, wellbeing, and quality of life; ib. program participants breast cancer recurrence rates; ic. factors that influence the program's self-sustainability potential; id. processes involved in programming revision / modification / improvement etc. outline: patients attend survivorship group support sessions over 2 hours on the 1st and 3rd thursday of each month and 1:1 peer mentoring sessions with long-term breast cancer survivors on the 2nd and 4th thursday of each month for up to 12 months.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * self-identify as black or african american but may include other breast cancer survivors * ability to speak and read english * at least 18 years of age or older * live in the western new york area * has been diagnosed with breast cancer (any stage) * has completed primary breast cancer treatments (i.e., systemic, radiation, and/or surgical interventions other that breast reconstruction surgeries) * mentors are at least one-year post-treatment completion * mentees are less than one-year post-treatment completion * note: individuals who have completed primary breast cancer treatments who are being managed with ongoing hormonal therapies and/or are awaiting breast reconstruction surgery may participate in this study (i.e., these therapies do not meet exclusion criteria) exclusion criteria: * currently receiving neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant systemic and/or radiations therapies * unwilling or unable to complete the assessment in english * are pregnant or nursing * are unwilling or unable to follow protocol requirements * note: individuals who have completed primary breast cancer treatments who are being managed with ongoing hormonal therapies and/or are awaiting breast reconstruction surgery may participate in this study (i.e., these therapies do not meet exclusion criteria)