Social Work Professor Creates Web site for Cancer Survivors

The Georgia Department of Human Resources’ Comprehensive Cancer Control Program contracted with UGA, under the leadership of Dr. Kimberly S. Clay, to conduct two cancer survivorship research projects resulting in the recently launched Web site, SurvivorIAm.com.

The new Web site represents a major advance in the ability of cancer survivors and health care providers to obtain valuable information about the survivorship experience. The Survivor I Am Web site features a virtual training with highlights from the Institute of Medicine report, From Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor: Lost in Transition, which concluded that cancer survivorship is a distinct phase of the cancer trajectory and that a strategy is needed for the ongoing clinical care of cancer survivors. The intent of the Survivor I Am Web site is to optimize communication and coordination of cancer survivorship care in Georgia.

The Survivor I Am campaign is a community-based participatory research project targeting cancer survivors, family members, formal and informal caregivers, and health care providers to educate and empower a growing population of cancer survivors in the United States, and in Georgia.

For Clay, the Web site and campaign are part of her larger program of research focused on behavioral and psychosocial interventions to improve cancer outcomes, survivorship and symptom control for older adult cancer survivors.

 “A major focus of my work is cancer health disparities,” Clay said. “The underlying goal of Survivor I Am is reducing the unequal burden of cancer through science, training and community outreach. This Web site is a cornerstone of our effort to help cancer survivors learn more about their survivorship journey while also educating health care providers on ways to better deliver quality survivorship care.”