Psychosocial Support for African-American, Latina-American, or European-American Cervical Cancer Survivors

OBJECTIVES: I. To evaluate the utility of the 6 telephone sessions (low intensity: LiTx) and 8 telephone sessions (high intensity: HiTx) plus Survivorship Booklet designed to educate and improve awareness of the physical and psychological impact of cancer and increase knowledge of appropriate medical and psychosocial resources for women with cervical cancer. II. To evaluate the utility of the telephone sessions (LiTx and HiTx) designed to improve psychological functioning (decrease depression and anxiety) of women with cervical cancer. III. To evaluate the utility of the telephone sessions (LiTx and HiTx) designed to improve social functioning (family support and communication).

OUTLINE: Patients are clinically assigned to 1 of 2 groups. GROUP I: Patients receive a survivorship booklet in the mail that contains information about cervical cancer. Patients then receive a follow-up telephone call at 3 months to clarify any issues relevant to the survivorship booklet. GROUP II: Patients are randomly assigned to receive either 6 or 8 weekly telephone sessions that address managing medical issues, health education, and cancer resources; balancing emotions and managing stress; coping skills and problem solving; family and social concerns; relational, intimacy, and sexual concerns; and financial and employment concerns. Patients also receive a survivorship booklet as in group I.

Inclusion criteria

Within 6 months to 3 years of a cervical cancer diagnosis Diagnosed with stages 1-3 invasive cervical cancer Not diagnosed with another type of cancer No other major disabling medical or psychiatric condition Survivors within 6 months to 3 years post diagnosis are included Participants must be able to read and/or speak either English or Spanish Women will not be excluded based on the type of treatment received for their cervical cancer or a history of diagnosis of mild depression or anxiety Exclusion Criteria: Women with metastatic disease Women with major medical conditions (e.g., stroke and degenerative illness) Survivors with moderate to severe depression or anxiety Asian participants Stage 0 disease