PEACE: People Empowered After the Cancer Experience

A Program for Adult Survivors of Cancer at New Milford Regional Cancer Center

 Quality of life takes on many dimensions following a cancer diagnosis. Cancer survivors and their families often face unique physical, emotional, social and financial challenges as a result of their disease and treatment. Cancer survivorship is now recognized as a separate phase of the cancer experience. The Institute of Medicine's Report in 2005 identified that survivors often feel "lost in transition" when moving from active therapy into the follow-up phase of their care. The PEACE program at New Milford Hospital's Regional Cancer Center encompasses a holistic approach, utilizing both traditional and complementary therapies to address the needs of the adult cancer survivor.

Following primary curative treatment, survivors entering the PEACE program have an individual visit with our health providers to review and receive a copy of the treatment summary and plan for follow-up care. This information is shared with the cancer survivor's primary care physician with a copy provided for his/her personal records.   

Other aspects of the PEACE program include:

• physical exam/evaluation, including lab and radiological testing as needed
• mental health assessment and referral as needed
• Survivorship Plan: written plan with specific needs/concerns, recommended lifestyle changes, and referrals as needed
• Supportive services, including:
• Exercise programs
• Nutritional counseling
• Rehabilitation therapies (physical/occupational)
• Genetic counseling
• Neuropsychological counseling
• Integrative therapies: (Reiki, acupuncture, massage, reflexology)
• Insurance/financial planning
• Survivorship clinical trials
• Survivorship events (Relay for Life, Survivor's Day)
• Smoking cessation
• Support Groups
• Educational programs
• "BEST" Group: Breast Cancer Survivors Working Together

Other Resources:

Anns Place, Danbury, CT: www.annsplace.org

Connecticut Challenge: www.ctchallenge.org

Cancer Care: www.cancercare.org

Livestrong: Lance Armstrong Foundation Resource for Cancer Survivors: www.livestrong.org

National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship: www.canceradvocacy.org

American Society of Clinical Oncology: www.cancer.net/patient/survivorship

American Cancer Society: www.cancer.org

Cancer Information Service: http://cis.nci.nih.gov