University of Arizona

Cancer survivors who suffer negative effects after treatment may soon have access to interventions that could help improve their lives.

The University of Arizona College of Nursing recently received a $2.5 million grant to study whether psycho-social interventions can help survivors improve their symptoms. In the past, several symptom management interventions have been tested during treatment, but few have addressed symptoms following treatment, including fatigue, depression and insomnia.

Terry Badger, who is a nursing and psychiatry professor at UA, is leading the program, and helped secure the grant from the National Cancer Institute.

"It is a 12-week treatment," Badger said. "We call people on the telephone, once a week for 12 weeks, at a time that's convenient for them, and we talk to them about their issues and concerns."

Badger said the program also includes an evidence-based, self-care handbook on symptom management. Both the phone therapy sessions and the handbook are available in Spanish.