IPOS News

Webinar We don't suffer alone: the social context of fear of cancer recurrence

Date Tuesday, September 22, 2020 (+1 day for Australia/NZ)
Time 3:30 p.m. PST (convert to your local time)

Duration: 60 minutes

Speakers:

• Lauren Heathcote, PhD, Stanford University
• Emily Soriano, PhD Candidate, University of Delaware
• Andrea Cohee, PhD, RN, Indiana University School of Nursing

The FORwards Webinar Series aims to bring together the international community of researchers and clinicians interested in fear of cancer recurrence, to provide cutting-edge updates on brand-spanking new research, and to spark conversations and collaborative projects across the globe.

This webinar will be of interest to both clinicians and researchers who want to better understand and manage FCR in people living with cancer and their loved ones.

Attendance is free, but registration is required 

Register online by going to https://stanford.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fJYJlMZ1SVafsNMCfNh-OA

This webinar is sponsored by the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) special interest group on fear of cancer recurrence (FORwards)

Edited by Maggie Watson and David W. Kissane

Paperback | 9780190934033 March 2020 | 192 pages £16.09 | $24.50

• Discusses sexuality, intimacy, and fertility in the contexts of cancer treatment and survivorship
• Includes clinical cases to demonstrate direct application of treatment methods
• Toolkit format enables quick reference during everyday clinical practice

This book provides clinical management guidelines for the impact of cancer and oncology treatments on sexual health, fertility and relationships. Employing a practical toolkit format, this volume addresses a spectrum of key topics including: provision of onco-fertility and sexual health support, LGBTQ+ issues, support for adolescents and young people, effective psychoeducational/psycho-sexual interventions, and managing relationships for individuals and couples.

Order online at www.oup.com/academic and enter AMPROMD9 to save 30% with code AMPROMD9* Paperback | 9780190934033

FORwards Webinars

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Fear of Recurrence Webinar Series. This new Zoom-based webinar series aims to bring together our international community of FORwards researchers and clinicians, to provide cutting-edge updates on brand-spanking new research on fear of cancer recurrence, and to spark new conversations and collaborative projects across the globe. Watch your inboxes for details of the first webinar in the series, which will be hosted next month.

FORwards research opportunity – call for student/postdoc to lead

FORwards intends to support a research project to develop and publish a paper on the ‘Core Outcome Domains and Measures for Fear of Cancer Recurrence/Progression Studies and Clinical Trials.’ The paper will follow a similar structure as this influential paper published in the field of pediatric pain. We are looking for a postdoc or a student researcher to lead this project – PIs please contact [email protected] if your postdoc/student is interested.

New online FCR research hub

The Psycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG) in Australia have launched an online FCR resource hub (https://www.pocog.org.au/content.aspx?pagetype=public&page=fcrhub&version=1&search=*) to make it easier for people to access the ConquerFear intervention materials and research involving members of the ConquerFear team.

Call for ECR opportunities

FORwards is committed to supporting our Early Career Researchers (ECRs). Do you know of an upcoming postdoc position or ECR funding opportunity? If so, please send all announcements to [email protected] so that we can compile these and disseminate to our ECR community.

FCR Research

FORwards members have been hard at work publishing new papers on fear of cancer recurrence and progression over the last few months. Below is a selection of new papers from our SIG members.

• Muldbücker, P, et al. Are women more afraid than men? Fear of recurrence in couples with cancer–predictors and sex-role-specific differences. Journal of psychosocial oncology (2020).
• Heathcote, L. C., Zion, S. R., & Crum, A. J. Cancer survivorship – considering mindsets. JAMA oncology (2020).
• Cho, D., & Park, C. L. Moderating effects of perceived growth on the association between fear of cancer recurrence and health-related quality of life among adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. Journal of psychosocial oncology, (2017).
• Shim, E. J., et al. Trajectory of fear of cancer recurrence and beliefs and rates of medication adherence in patients with breast cancer. Psycho‐Oncology (2020).
• Lebel, S., et al. Health anxiety and illness-related fears across diverse chronic illnesses: A systematic review on conceptualization, measurement, prevalence, course, and correlates. PloS one (2020).
• Reb, A. M., et al. Fear of Cancer Progression: Findings From Case Studies and a Nurse-Led Intervention. Clinical journal of oncology nursing (2020).
• Thiele, S., et al. Fear of disease progression and relevant correlates in acute leukemia patients prior to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Psycho‐Oncology (2020).
• Martin, C. M., et al. The Impact of Social Constraints on Insomnia Among African‐American Breast Cancer Survivors: The Mediating Role of Fear of Recurrence. Psycho‐Oncology (2020).

If you would like to include an update in the Autumn newsletter, or know a student or colleague who would like to join this SIG, please reach out to Lauren Heathcote (FORwards Secretary) at [email protected].  Thank you all for the phenomenal work that you do to support people living with and beyond cancer.

Since the 22nd IPOS World Conference was delayed until 2021, the Journal of Psychosocial Oncology Research & Practice – the Official IPOS Journal - published the CAPO 2020 Conference Abstracts. All accepted abstracts from the CAPO 2020 Conference Program are included and FREE to access! The publication is now available by going to https://journals.lww.com/jporp/toc/2020/07001

Also note, ANYONE around the World can now purchase the COMPLETE CAPO Conference recordings (watch at your own leisure and time zone!). This year's conference was a hybrid of LIVE and pre-recorded presentations. The LIVE sessions were recorded and are now available for purchase for anyone that did not register. The recordings include:

• 20-minute oral presentations
• Symposiums
• 90-minute workshops
• Pre-recorded 10-minute oral presentations
• E-posters with pre-recorded presentations

As a bonus, all of our pre-conference workshops were recorded and are also included with this package.

• Regular Member:$225 CDN
• Non-Member:$350 CDN
• Student Member:$125 CDN
• Student Non-Member:$150 CDN
• Patient Advocate Member:$125 CDN
• Patient Advocate Non-Member:$150 CDN

To purchase, please go to https://capo.wildapricot.org/event-3935919

Introduction to Theory and Practice (IPODE) and Sexual Health in Cancer Part 1 (IPODE) Online Courses

For a decade now, de Souza Institute has been offering continuing professional development courses to healthcare professionals, to enhance their knowledge and competency and give them tools to provide the best possible cancer and/or palliative care. With online course offerings, participants can start at any time, from anywhere! Join over 16,000 healthcare professionals who have learned with de Souza.

IPOS Members receive 10% off until August 24th on the below courses with coupon code. Please email the IPOS office to request the coupon code.

Interprofessional Psychosocial Oncology Part 1: Introduction to Theory and Practice (IPODE) - Psychosocial Oncology is a specialty area of cancer care that is concerned with the myriad of psychological, emotional, social and spiritual responses of persons affected by cancer. This web-based continuing education course provides an opportunity for practicing health professionals to explore common psychosocial issues that individuals and families experience when an adult family member is diagnosed with cancer. Primary emphases in the course include understanding the illness experience and assessing distress and coping from a family centered perspective. Enroll by August 17th , course starts on August 17th and ends on December 7, 2020.

Visit the Interprofessional Psychosocial Oncology Part 1: Introduction to Theory and Practice (IPODE) for additional details, including online classroom dates

Sexual Health in Cancer Part 1 (IPODE) - Sexual concerns are one of the most common cancer survivorship issues, yet they are the least likely to be discussed. Learn skills in assessment and counseling for common sexual health issues in cancer care. Enroll by August 19, course starts on September 3.

Visit the Sexual Health in Cancer course webpage for additional details, including online classroom dates.

Both courses are offered in collaboration with the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology.

Find out more by going to https://mailchi.mp/ipos-society/ipos-xchange-feb112020-1500986?e=9b35f09fec

The update below has been kindly provided by:

Dr. habil. Dégi L. Csaba PhD MSW
IPOS Director · ECCO Director · UBB-BBTE Ombudsman ·
APSCO President · IASLC · CNASR Comisia de Cercetare

My name is Anna Ugalde and I am a senior research fellow at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia. My role is focused on research, with the program including studies on understanding the experiences of people with cancer and their caregivers, intervention studies, health services research and evaluation of models of care or support services. These studies use a range of methodologies, both qualitative and quantitative, and we do a few systematic reviews as well. My background is in psychology and I am early/mid career stage. My PhD developed an instrument for cancer caregivers, and more recently I have become interested in implementation science. In 2018 I attended the Training Institute for Dissemination and Implementation Research in Cancer course, run by National Cancer Institute, which included a series of online modules and a quick trip to Washington DC. I highly recommend the course – I feel implementation remains a key challenge in psycho-oncology and after the training I have been able to apply implementation science principles to a range of studies. This includes co-authoring a paper on a primer for implementation science in psycho-oncology in the new IPOS journal: Journal of Psychosocial Oncology Research and Practice (Rankin et al., 2019) and also a systematic review exploring the implementation potential of cancer caregiving interventions, finding they are generally not designed or conducted to promote implementation (Ugalde et al., 2019, Psycho-Oncology). I love working in research, it is always busy, diverse and interesting! Being a member of IPOS represents an opportunity to be in touch with colleagues from around the world.

This report was commissioned by the European Parliament and the European Cancer Organisation produced the report.  IPOS members will be particularly interested in pages 93-96 which cover psychosocial care. This provides powerful support for our members in local advocacy initiatives.

IPOS has recently established a Survivorship Special Interest Group (SIG). The aims of the Survivorship Special Interest Group (SIG) are to:

• Provide a professional network for clinicians and researchers who have an interest in cancer survivorship
• Promote awareness of issues affecting cancer survivors, their family members, and carers
• Disseminate through the IPOS website information about a broad range of educational opportunities (including web-based resources or focused training), workshops or conferences (if approved by the Education Committee) of interest to members
• Establish research collaborations (in coordination with the IPOS Research Committee)
• Disseminate research findings including implementation strategies particularly in the areas of prevention, early detection, and management of survivorship issues, as well as promotion of wellness
• Network with like-minded organisations with a similar focus to the IPOS survivorship SIG
• Provide advice to the IPOS Board regarding survivorship care

I am the inaugural chair of the SIG. We are now calling for expressions of interest / members. To be eligible, you must be a member of IPOS, or be willing to join.

Work of the SIG will be shaped by the membership, though we anticipate initial work will include:

• Establishing a section of the IPOS website that will contain: guidance regarding common issues experienced by survivors; professional education relevant to survivorship care; information about research gaps and priorities; profiles of current IPOS members active in survivorship research; resources about the post-treatment survivorship phase for patients and carers, available in multiple languages
• Collating information from SIG members regarding their current clinical practice, educational and research activity, relating to cancer survivorship
• Facilitating research collaborations in topics relating to cancer survivorship
• Considering the development of position statements and resource-stratified guidelines relating to cancer survivorship

Please complete a simple form to register your interest by going to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FBDLTH7

I hope we’ll have our first Zoom meeting in a month or two

Best wishes

Prof Michael Jefford
MBBS, MPH, MHlthServMt Monash, PhD, GCertUniTeach Melb, GAICD, FRACP

• The Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York offers a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in Psycho-Oncology to begin July/August 2020. 

  REQUIREMENTS: A doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) in psychology or allied field.

  PROGRAM OVERVIEW:   The fellow would train under licensed health psychologist and founding director of The Bronx Oncology Living Daily (BOLD) Program and work within a compassionate and hardworking team towards learning the skills for developing, implementing, and evaluating culturally-responsive cancer wellness services tailored to a diverse and underserved population. 

  The training emphasis of this fellowship is 50% research/program coordination, 30% mentoring others, and 20% clinical. 

  The Fellow would be involved in all aspects of this community-based Cancer Wellness Program including:

• ·          Coordination, development, and clinical delivery of BOLD programming and services
• ·          Screening, supervision and training of interns and consultants
• ·          Research implementation including IRB reporting, coordinating data recruitment, data entry, and intervention activity, and
• ·          Grant, conference, and publication preparation
• ·          Fundraising activity
• ·          Attending Einstein/Montefiore presentations and trainings for professional development

To apply for this position, please EMAIL your CV with a cover letter to:

[email protected] 

Learn More about BOLD here: 

YouTube:  https://tinyurl.com/BOLDpgmVideo

www.einsteinmed.org/cancercenter/support