Cancer Survivors Day is June 7, and more people than ever are celebrating life after cancer, though that life does not come without challenges. Top researchers in the Cancer Survivorship Center in the College of Nursing at the University of South Carolina are available to discuss many aspects of cancer survivorship, including discontinuing treatments, how diet and exercise affect post-treatment survivors, and health disparities. To arrange an interview with any of these experts, contact April Blake at [email protected] or call 803-777-5984.
Swann Arp Adams is an associate professor in the College of Nursing and co-director of the Cancer Survivorship Center. Her research focuses on understanding and intervening upon cancer health disparities experienced by African-Americans. In particular, much of her work is focused on incorporating healthier eating and physical activity to prevent cancer and increase survivorship among those diagnosed with cancer as well as how access to and utilization of health care influences cancer disparities. She is available to discuss general aspects of survivorship, the decision to stop cancer treatments, how the environment influences cancer health, health care access and utilization, and how diet and sedentary behavior may affect the progression of cancer.
Bernadine Pinto, professor and associate dean for research in the College of Nursing, is also the principal investigator for a $2.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to continue research on the long term effects of telephone-based peer support programs offered to breast cancer survivors as a way to encourage more physical activity. Research has found that the intervention significantly increased the amount of exercise that survivors engaged in after three and six months. Additional research will look at supporting the adoption of exercise and maintenance through 12 months with the hope of offering this kind of peer mentoring through community-based cancer care organizations. She is available to discuss the positive effects of peer support and physical activity in breast cancer patients and survivors.
Tisha Felder is a research assistant professor with the Cancer Prevention and Control Program and the College of Nursing. Most of her work looks at adherence to hormonal therapy treatment among breast cancer patients following “active treatment” (completion of breast surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation, as appropriate), and the differences in breast cancer treatment outcomes among women at different income levels. “Many women discontinue taking the medication that they are prescribed to take following active treatment after about a year, especially low-income women, which may contribute to their worse outcomes,” Felder said. She is currently researching the social support aspect and other daily living challenges that may be creating obstacles for these women. She is available to discuss discontinuation of hormonal therapy medications, health disparities and access to health-related services for cancer survivors, and general aspects of life after cancer.
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