Program: Inner Thrive! Integrative Wellness Center for Breast Cancer

Program Description:

Inner Thrive! is an innovative wellness and cancer support model built by a young breast cancer survivor as a model program to provide access to Integrative Healthcare for all cancer survivors. Starting with breast cancer this model was created to allow people of lower incomes and in higher mortality groups to have equal access to resources that alleviate suffering These essential support services (ie: acupuncture, massage/reflexology, aromatherapy, patient navigation, nutritional counseling, meditation and exercise) in preventative and palliative care were previously inaccessible to a vast number of underprivileged women, disproportionately disfavoring minority communities. These services are proven scientifically to reduce symptoms associated with cancer and it’s treatments. This foundation is dedicated to making the most helpful integrative resources available to all people at a time when they need it most and can afford it least. Please support the people who have cancer by helping You Can Thrive! continue and expand our very essential mission.

Program Long-Term Success:

Evaluation tool: MYMOP. A self-evaluation tool that aims to measure the outcomes the client considers most important. On the first occasion the questionnaire is completed within the consultation. The survivor chooses one or two symptoms that they consider most pressing. They also choose a life activity limited or prevented by this symptom. Their choices are written down and then scored for severity over the past week on a seven-point scale with 0 being as good as it can be and 6 being as bad as it could be. Lastly, well-being is scored on a similar scale. On follow-up questionnaires the wording of the previously chosen symptoms is unchanged. Each client is evaluated before the 1st visit, then after 4th, 7th, 10th, and lastly after the 13th visit. Several published studies have shown that MYMOP is practical, reliable, and sensitive to change. These studies from both orthodox and complementary practitioners include people receiving treatment for a range of problems. We’ve found it to be the appropriate self-evaluation tool for this program and are considering additional studies with the help of Dawn (epidemiology) ND. Preliminary Results: Preliminary data has been collected for Twenty eight (28) women. The mean rating for the primary symptom at the initial assessment was 4.37. Approximately 4 sessions later the women were reassessed for the same symptom and the mean rating for the primary symptom this time was 2.61. This was a significant drop of ratings of symptomology, t (27) = 7.54, p < .001. Twenty three (23) women also identified a second symptom. The mean rating for the second symptom at the initial assessment was 4.18 and at the 4 session follow up it was 2.96, t (22) = 2.65, p < .05 In addition, 25 women identified an activity that their symptoms interfered with, and to rated how much interference they experienced over the last week, using the same 0-6 scale. At the initial assessment the mean rating was 3.94 and at the follow up the mean rating was 2.92, t (25) = 4.26, p < .001. Finally, everyone rated their overall wellbeing over the last week on a scale of 0-6, with lower scores indicating a better overall sense of wellbeing. The initial mean rating was 3.70 and at the follow up it was 2.52, t (24) = 3.22, p > .01. On all four scales the mean ratings improved, suggesting a reduction in symptomology, less symptom interference with daily activities, and a better overall sense of wellbeing after participating in the program for approximately 4 sessions. For several of the women we collected follow data after eight sessions, the trend continued with the mean ratings improving. This statistically significant preliminary data leads us to believe that our program is a very effective support tool on many levels. We look forward to a wider study among survivors with Columbia University researchers. It has been approved by the IRB and we seek funding to implement our strategy.

Program Short-Term Success:

Mortar and brick funding for a crucial dedicated space open to all types of cancer.

Program Success Monitored by:

Program Success Examples: