UNC Lineberger’s Carolina Well and the Comprehensive Cancer Support Program (CCSP) offered a workshop on “Cancer Transitions: Promoting Wellness & Group Process” for community outreach coordinators and their community partners as well for interested UNC nurses and staff.
More than 20 professionals took part, including staff from the Marion Shepard Cancer Center in Washington; Alamance Regional Medical Center in Burlington; Presbyterian Counseling Center/Sam Mann Healing Partnership and Voces Latina in Wilmington; Leo Jenkins Cancer Center in Greenville; and Duplin General Hospital in Kenansville.
The inaugural workshop included training on group facilitation and a chance to share ideas with colleagues. The workshop also featured an overview of the Cancer Transitions program, a six-week psycho-educational program that began at UNC in 2009, and one that will be implemented in more NC communities.
Nicole DaVia, a physician’s assistant at the Marion L. Shepard Cancer Center in Washington, NC, said, “Programs like this one are essential to train medical caregivers in providing continued care and guidance to our patients and their families beyond cancer treatment. This time of “transition” is one of the most difficult and if we can provide them with some guidance then we will have provided a continued sense of security and hope that life does go on beyond cancer!”
Carolina Well, a survivorship program of UNC Lineberger, is a member of the LIVESTRONG Survivorship Center of Excellence Network. The program is made possible by the V Foundation and the Lance Armstrong Foundation. CCSP is a multidisciplinary program dedicated to helping patients and their caregivers with cancer treatment, recovery and survivorship.