Wheel of Hope project: addressing disparities in complementary services for women with breast cancer in an underserved community.
Authors: M Feinberg, C Cokes
Journal: Cancer Research (2009)

Abstract Abstract #1121 Introduction For low-income women, unsafe housing, difficulty accessing quality health care, and economic insecurity only compound the stress of breast cancer. Use of yoga, reiki, and meditation practices by women with breast cancer has been linked with increased quality of life and decreased presence of stress hormones.1-3 Feelings of hope may improve psychological health.4 Yet for women in poor neighborhoods, geographic, transportation, language, cultural, and financial barriers exist to accessing complementary and support services.&amp;#x2028; In the Bronx, a majority Latino New York City borough containing the poorest Congressional District in the US, these services are rarely available. While numerous free services exist in higher SES neighborhoods in Manhattan, their location and monolingual nature limit the ability of Bronx women with breast cancer to access them. Other complementary services are too expensive.&amp;#x2028; Methods To address this disparity of greater need and decreased access, The Wheel of Hope project, funded through a STEP grant of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, offered a full-day bilingual program including a “sharing circle” for psycho-social support, gentle chair yoga, nutritious food, and reiki in a “Day of Healing” for women with breast cancer residing in the Bronx. Participants received both a meditation CD and an information packet in their language of choice. Women shared experiences, encouragement, and fears, relaxed, received reiki and learned complementary self-care and healing skills which could be continued at home. The events reflected our core values with bilingual/bicultural yoga instructors, reiki practitioners, group facilitators and educational information. At the end of each session an evaluation form was given to each participant.&amp;#x2028; Results A total of 86 women, heterogeneous in age, ethnicity, dominant language, and type and stage of breast cancer participated. 43.1% identified as Latina, 26.4% African American, 22.2% West Indian, 5.6% White, and 2.8% Asian.&amp;#x2028; Of 80 survey respondents, 98.7% indicated the day helped them in some way. 77% reported reduced stress, 78.4% felt more peaceful and encouraged by sharing with women with similar problems. 60.8% had increased feelings of hope. 71.2% planned to continue meditation techniques at home. 67.1% to continue yoga, 58.9% to continue breathing techniques, and 47.9% to change their cooking or eating habits as a result of nutritional information they received.&amp;#x2028; Conclusions Low-income Bronx women were eager to participate and were positive about their experience, demonstrating the value of such programs. We plan to continue to provide these services, to encourage similar efforts in other communities, and to promote the training of peer cancer survivors to lead healing and support circles.&amp;#x2028; References&amp;#x2028; (1) Cohen, L.et.al.Journal of Clinical Oncology.2006;24(18S):8505.&amp;#x2028; (2) Miles, P.Advances.2007;22(2):20-26.&amp;#x2028; (3) Carlson, L. Speca, M. Patel, K. and Goodey, E.Psychosomatic Medicine.2003;65: 571-581.&amp;#x2028; (4) Stanton, A. Danoff-burg, S. and Huggins, M. Psycho-Oncology.2002;11(2):93-102. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 1121.