Emotional Distress and the Patient Journey in Cancer Care

Emotional distress affects most cancer patients, from diagnosis and treatment all the way through survivorship and recurrence. Cancer is, after all, a monstrous disease, synonymous for many with death and suffering, not to mention financial hardship. Day to day, cancer distress translates into fatigue, pain, anxiety, and depression. And then there are the side effects of treatment, including pain, nausea, and fatigue.

Clinical practice guidelines have begun to reflect the patient experience to include meditation, acupuncture, and yoga as support for patients in distress. The emerging field of "integrative oncology" also reflects the need to address the costs of care associated with distress and co-morbid mental illness in cancer patients.

The fact is that cancer patients in distress are more likely to use community health services and to visit emergency facilities. This translates into higher costs of care. According to an analysis of 9.5 million claims from the U.S. Military Health System in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, co-morbid mood or adjustment disorders in cancer patients increased costs of treatment by $9,000 per year for a woman with breast cancer and $8,000 per year for a man with prostate cancer.

MI tackled this problem head on in one of its first clinical trials, The SEAMLESS Study: Smartphone App-based Mindfulness for Cancer Survivors. The study featured a unique mindfulness-based curriculum develop with leading psycho-oncologist Dr. Linda Carlson of the University of Calgary. And the results demonstrate that AmDTx's mobile mental health support for patients in distress really helps—and is as effective live psychotherapy. 

"…it was helping me get through my post cancer treatments and my cancer that has been a very very rough journey," reported one participant. 

The clinical validation in the SEAMLESS study inspired the team at MI to develop a broader programme supporting patients along the entire trajectory of treatment. 

First came the team—fourteen mindfulness trainers from around the world, all with deep experience either working with cancer patients or as cancer patients themselves. Often both. 

Then the curriculum. Led by psychologist Dr. Norm Farb of the University of Toronto and supported by Dr. Linda Carlson of the University of Calgary and Dr. Cristiane Bergerot of the City of Hope National Medical Center, we crafted 15 targeted mini-programmes supporting the emotional resilience and physical rehabilitation of cancer patients—first in English, French and German. Then in Portuguese. Most recently in Chinese.

AmDTx's Chinese language cancer curriculum is led by guides Dr. Yujing Sun and Balinda Li. Dr. Sun is a cancer researcher working as Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Vermont. Balinda is a psychotherapist and mindfulness trainer with extensive experience working with cancer patients. Their work is authentic, unique, and ground in compassion and care. 

"Cancer diagnosis and treatment can bring huge pressure for cancer patients and their family members. The psychosocial support for cancer patients plays a critical role in integrative cancer care," says Yujing. 

Cancer is a leading cause of death around the world. The deployment of AmDTx's cancer curriculum is one more meaningful step towards our goal of making effective and accessible healthcare for every human. 

Stay tuned for updates along the way.