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Together After Cancer

Grant Background

Together After Cancer

Inspiration

Our research program was inspired by a number of concerning issues faced by Latina cancer survivors:

  • One in three Latinos receives a diagnosis of cancer during his/her lifetime

Compared to non-Latino cancer survivors, they experience:

  • Worse quality of life
  • More distress due to strained spousal and family relationships
  • Worse physical and mental health

Partners of Latino cancer survivors experience:

  • Psychological distress
  • Physical symptoms of stress

There are no programs available in Spanish for Latinas diagnosed with cancer (or for their partners) that specifically address the impact of cancer on couples’ relationships.

Goal & Objective

Research has shown that couples-based psychosocial programs can improve both cancer survivors’ and their partners’ quality of life, emotional health, and physical health. Our goal is to develop a program for Latina breast cancer survivors and their partners that is culturally meaningful, relevant, and responds to the needs and concerns of both the survivor and their partner. 

We aim to culturally adapt a widely available and effective online couple’s intervention program, OurRelationship, for Latina breast cancer survivors and their intimate partners.

    1. Gathering feedback on the original OurRelationship program from Latina breast cancer survivors and their intimate partners through focus groups, as well as from community partners and research advisors. Using this feedback to adapt the original OurRelationship program for Latina cancer survivors and their intimate partners. The adapted program will be called Juntos Después del Cáncer (JDC) / Together After Cancer (TAC).
    2. Testing the program using a randomized controlled trial. Latina breast cancer survivors and their intimate partners will be randomly assigned to either go through the culturally adapted JDC/TAC program or receive typical care such as individual therapy. Analyzing the adapted program to evaluate for efficacy in regard to relationship functioning, psychological functioning (depression, anxiety, and perceived stress), and cancer-related quality of life (pain, fatigue, body image, and quality of life) compared to couples assigned to the UC group.

  • The Together After Cancer intervention is an online program recruiting participants across the state of Florida from hospitals and cancer centers in three major cities: AdventHealth (Orlando), Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center (Miami) and Moffitt Comprehensive Cancer Center (Tampa).

    If you want to participate in our study, learn more, or ask questions about how the program works, please contact us by emailing cophjdc@usf.edu, calling (813) 825-2788, or completing our survey. We will contact you back within 48 hours.