Managing Cancer
“The main thing I got out of the class was learning to set realistic goals, and finding ways to work through the limits your condition gives you. It’s like looking at the glass as half-full, instead of half empty”—Jerry
Millions of people in the United States have had cancer at some point in their lifetime and the numbers are growing. Cancer self-management education (SME) programs can help people affected by cancer identify ways to reduce stress, manage pain, relax, and feel better. Find out how an SME program can help you learn more and feel better.
You can learn more about other cancer resources in your area by going to the American Cancer Society’s resource finder.
Cancer: Thriving and Surviving
Cost: The cost varies by organization, but rarely is more than $50.
Format: This course is offered as an in-person workshop.
About the Program
Cancer: Thriving and Surviving (CTS) is a 6-week interactive workshop for cancer survivors developed by Stanford University. The facilitator led sessions are highly participative where mutual support and success builds your confidence in your ability to manage your health and maintain an active and fulfilling life.
Program Details
This program is open to people with cancer, survivors, family, friends, and caregivers. Two trained leaders facilitate the program at each location; at least one trainer has been affected by cancer. This 6-week program meets 2 to 2.5 hours each week.
Topics include:
- Techniques to deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, pain, isolation, poor sleep and living with uncertainty.
- Appropriate exercise for regaining and maintaining flexibility and endurance.
- Making decisions about treatment and complementary therapies.
- Communicating effectively with family, friends, and health professionals.
- Nutrition.
- Setting priorities.
- Relationships.
Visit the Self-Management Resource Center website to learn more about Cancer: Thriving and Surviving. Locate a program in your area on the Evidence-Based Leadership Council website.
Cáncer: Triunfando y Sobreviviendo
Cost: The cost varies by organization, but rarely is more than $50.
Format: This course is offered as an in-person workshop.
About the Program
Cáncer: Triunfando y Sobreviviendo, which is the Spanish language version of Cancer: Thriving and Surviving, is an interactive workshop designed for Spanish speaking people with cancer.
Program Details
The program meets for six weeks, with small groups of about 14 participants. It teaches techniques to deal with frustration and fatigue, appropriate exercises, ways to make decisions about treatment, and how to talk with loved ones and healthcare providers about your care and other needs.
It is very similar to the Cancer: Thriving and Surviving program, but was developed to be culturally appropriate for Spanish speaking adults.
Topics include:
- Techniques to deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, pain, isolation, poor sleep, and living with uncertainty.
- Appropriate exercise for regaining and maintaining flexibility and endurance.
- Making decisions about treatment and complementary therapies.
- Communicating effectively with family, friends, and health professionals.
- Nutrition.
- Setting priorities.
- Relationships.
Learn more about Cáncer: Triunfando y Sobreviviendo at the Self-Management Resource Center website.
The SME programs that follow are for people with any chronic health condition.
Chronic Disease Self-Management Program
Cost: The cost varies by organization, but rarely is more than $50.
Format: This course is offered as an in-person workshop.
About the Program
The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program is an interactive workshop for people with all types of chronic conditions. Stanford University developed this course to help people with one or more chronic conditions learn the strategies to manage their condition and have the confidence to carry them out.
Program Details
This interactive workshop meets for 2.5 hours per week for 6 weeks in convenient community locations. The instructors are trained leaders, at least one of whom has a chronic condition. This workshop is known by a variety of different names, including Living Well.
The program is also available in Spanish.
Subjects covered include:
- Techniques to deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, pain, and isolation.
- Appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility, and endurance.
- Appropriate use of medications.
- Communicating effectively with family, friends, and health professionals.
- Managing depression.
- Better breathing techniques.
- Relaxation techniques.
- Healthy eating habits.
- Making good decisions about your health.
- How to evaluate new treatments.
Visit the Self-Management Resource Center website to learn more about the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program.
Locate organizations licensed to offer the program in your area on the Evidence-Based Leadership Council website.
Chronic Disease Self-Management Program: Tool Kit for Active Living
Cost: $43.96.
Format: Self-study toolkit.
About the Program
The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program Tool Kit for Active Living provides much of the same information as the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) in a self-study format that you can receive by mail.
Program Details
The tool kit helps you construct your own self-management plan to deal with your chronic condition(s) through exercise, and strategies to reduce stress, fatigue, pain and other symptoms. It encourages goal setting, action planning, and thinking and acting proactively. You can work through the toolkit at your own pace, focusing on areas most important to you.
The program is also available in Spanish.
The self-study kit includes:
- The workbook Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions.
- Information Sheets briefly describing common problems and helpful solutions.
- A self-test that helps you identify elements and set priorities for a personal self-management plan.
- Action Plan description with instruction and examples for developing unique plan.
- Exercise Action Plan with hints and instruction on use of the other exercise and activity materials, Relaxation CD and Exercise CD.
Visit the Self-Management Resource Center website to learn more about the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program: Tool Kit for Active Living.
Tomando Control de su Salud
Cost: The cost varies by organization, but rarely is more than $50.
Format: This course is offered as an in-person workshop.
About the Program
This course, developed by Stanford University, is an interactive workshop for Spanish speaking adults with all types of chronic conditions. If you have one or more chronic condition, this program can help you learn the strategies and skills to manage your health and your condition(s) more effectively and live your everyday life.
Program Details
All the workshop sessions are held in Spanish. It is very similar to the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP), but was developed to be culturally appropriate for Spanish speaking adults. Workshop sessions last for 2.5 hours per week for 6 weeks at convenient community locations.
Topics include:
- Techniques to deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, pain, and isolation.
- Appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility, and endurance.
- Managing depression.
- Appropriate use of medications.
- Communicating effectively with family, friends, and health professionals.
- Healthy eating habits.
- Better breathing techniques.
- Relaxation techniques.
- Appropriate use of the health care system.
- Making good decisions about your health.
- How to evaluate new treatments.
Visit the Self-Management Resource Center website to learn more about Tomando Control de su Salud.
Locate organizations licensed to offer the program in your area on the Evidence-Based Leadership Council website.