When a Parent Has Cancer Conference
The Family Reading List
The Wellness Community-Greater Boston
About the Hurricane Voices Fund
Cognitive Changes Related to Cancer Treatment: Executive Summary (pdf)
Cognitive Changes Related to Cancer Treatment:Full Results (pdf)
Hurricane Voices Extends its Legacy
As of April 30, 2008 Hurricane Voices Breast Cancer Foundation closed and the Hurricane Voices Fund for School and Family Programs was established at The Wellness Community-Greater Boston (TWC).
The Hurricane Voices Fund has been established in honor of Lois Egasti’s and Hurricane Voices’ legacy and as a tribute to the partnership that evolved as the two organizations developed When a Parent Has Cancer: Strengthening the School’s Response.
The endowment will support the continuation of When a Parent Has Cancer: Strengthening the School’s Response. The conference is a unique opportunity for school personnel to gain skills and share experiences as they work to create a caring environment for students coping with a parent’s cancer.
Additionally, the Hurricane Voices Fund will support the evolution of the Family Reading List. The List is a valued resource used by parents, medical centers, cancer organizations, and others across the country. As part of TWC’s programming the Family Reading List will expand to contain books and videos that help families cope with the impact of all types of parental cancer.
For more information, or to donate to the Hurricane Voices Fund visit The Wellness Community at www.twcgreaterboston.org.
Cognitive Changes Related to Cancer Treatment
In early 2007 Hurricane Voices embarked on a project to gather patient/survivor accounts of cognitive changes after cancer treatment. Our aim was to build a collective voice that would help raise the profile of cognitive deficits as a quality of life (QoL) issue for cancer patients.
Our online survey, Cognitive Changes Related to Cancer Treatment, dug deep in order to genuinely understand and begin to quantify the impact of this issue on the everyday lives of those struggling to deal with treatment side-effects that continue to be misunderstood and under-diagnosed.
As was graphically illustrated in this survey, cognitive impairment resulting from cancer treatment greatly diminishes quality of life (QoL) for cancer patients/survivors, and has far-reaching implications for the individual and society. The impact of ‘chemo brain’ goes far beyond an occasional lost word, or missed appointment. Often one's “self” is no longer recognizable, employment can be lost, and familial relationships shift. And, despite the pervasive impact on patients’ lives, cognitive changes are not adequately acknowledged and addressed by healthcare providers.
To learn more about the survey read the:
Cognitive Changes Related to Cancer Treatment: Executive Summary (pdf)
Cognitive Changes Related to Cancer Treatment: Full Results (pdf)