Occupational therapy's role in breast cancer survivorship
In light of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, The St. Augustine Record sat down with Lesley Khan Farooqi, Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy Programs at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences and Tiffany Bystra, Contributing Faculty of OT Programs at school to learn more the role occupational therapy plays in breast cancer survivorship.
What are the latest breast cancer statistics?
Approximately 13% (one in eight) of American women will develop invasive breast cancer. In the U.S. alone, there are currently more than four-million women with a history of breast cancer, including those being treated and those who have just completed treatment.
Second to lung cancer, breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in American women. At the start of 2023, an estimated 297,790 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed.
Breast cancer survival rates are relatively high, depending on the severity. Generally, survivors receive a post-treatment survivorship care plan of follow-up treatment, medical tests, physical examinations, etc. This excludes rehabilitative care. More than 11 million cancer survivors in the U.S. have not received oncology rehabilitation services, even though the National Health Interview Survey reports that general cancer survivors are significantly more likely to report fair or poor health, psychological impairments and three or more chronic comorbid conditions without it.
Rehabilitative care, specifically occupational therapy, is a crucial and valuable part of post-treatment breast cancer survivorship.
What is the importance of the advancement of recovery and early detection?
Recovery takes place over many different domains, i.e. physically, mentally, cognitively, etc. Supporting breast cancer survivors across their continuum, along with early detection and intervention for occupational disruptions, can be helpful in proactive rather than reactive recovery. Treatment can take its toll, so providing whole-person care as a foundational element of recovery is one aim of this survivorship group initiative.
Recovery is often self-defined and personal as well, so keeping the group peer-focused, client-driven, and supportive is a central tenant to our intentions.
What service does the Breast Cancer Survivorship Support Group provide?
The Breast Cancer Survivorship Support Group at USAHS holds sessions on physical health and well-being, psychosocial and emotional factors, cognitive factors, along with overall health and wellness. The interactive platform for post-treatment breast cancer survivors works to promote and support community engagement and fellowship through a safe space.
Our role as OT’s is to observe and suggest or introduce new concepts. In addition, USAHS’s occupational therapy doctoral students assist with peer-support discussions and engaging activities.
Our goal is to help survivors increase daily or desired activities and improve their quality of life. We also help breast cancer survivors advocate for themselves, to understand their needs, and in turn, make their needs known for the betterment of their care and quality of life.
What makes this Breast Cancer Survivorship Support Group different from others?
At USAHS, our discussions are driven by survivors, because they know best what their needs are. Participants aren't trying to fix a problem or close a gap. We simply acknowledge their hard work by giving them a space to reflect and remind themselves of their progress.
Occupational therapists play a critical role for breast cancer survivors. The sentiment around cancer is a fighter mentality for defeating the disease. This places pressure on survivors. As occupational therapists, we’re here to help survivors understand their feelings and face challenges, even in the simplicity of their daily tasks.
This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: Occupational therapy's role in breast cancer survivorship
