{"id":26586,"date":"2019-09-24T11:41:21","date_gmt":"2019-09-24T17:41:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=26586"},"modified":"2023-03-06T10:03:23","modified_gmt":"2023-03-06T17:03:23","slug":"impact-study-mental-health-support-for-cancer-patients","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/impact-study-mental-health-support-for-cancer-patients\/","title":{"rendered":"Closing the mental health care gap for cancer patients"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

Miguel and Bonita (Bonnie) Birge first met in high school, when Bonnie\u2019s brother introduced them. The casual start became a lifetime commitment: they celebrated their 20th<\/sup> wedding anniversary in late June. Many others share their Aurora home, including four dogs, four cats and two snakes, which Miguel says are just as companionable and worthy of affection as the furry four-legged friends.<\/p>\n

\"A
A boa constrictor (he has two) offers Miguel solace as he battles cancer. Photo courtesy of Miguel Birge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cIf you love an animal, care for it and show it love, it will in turn respond,\u201d said Miguel, 46.<\/p>\n

But for much of their time together, the Birges have had another unwelcome companion \u2013 the physical and mental stress caused by disease and injury. Diagnosed at 23 with Hodgkin\u2019s disease, Miguel endured a grueling four-drug combination chemotherapy regimen that goes by the acronym MOPP<\/a>. He emerged from the exhausting six-month ordeal haggard but cancer-free.<\/p>\n

Miguel worked steadily through 2008 in window and door sales and contracting. But then a drunk driver plowed into his car, severely injuring his back, ending his work career and ushering in a decade of physical and emotional challenges.<\/p>\n

Around 2012, severe abdominal pain he compared to \u201cbeating the hell out of you with a baseball bat\u201d required surgery to remove the tail of his pancreas, along with his spleen and gallbladder. Last April, pain in his upper stomach sent Miguel to the emergency department at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital<\/a> on the Anschutz Medical Campus<\/a>, where a CT scan revealed nodes in his right lung. He was diagnosed with stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).<\/p>\n

\"Miguel
Miguel, who is pictured with his wife Bonnie Birge, receives counseling services as part of his treatment for lung cancer. Photo by UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Miguel underwent genetic testing to see if he could be treated with drugs that inhibit cancer cell growth driven by a genetic mutation called ALK that occurs in about 4% of NSCLC patients. He didn\u2019t have the mutation, and his medical oncologist, Dr. Ross Camidge<\/a>, Joyce Zeff Chair in Lung Cancer Research<\/a> at the UCHealth University of Colorado Cancer Center<\/a>, told him chemotherapy was his only option for keeping the disease at bay. He began thrice-weekly treatments at the end of May.<\/p>\n

Camidge, however, had another treatment suggestion for the Birges. He pointed them to a study<\/a> sponsored by the University of Colorado Denver<\/a> (UCD) that tests the effectiveness of providing mental health support to relieve stress, depression and anxiety among underserved patients with lung and head and neck cancers and their caregivers. Patients at UCH, National Jewish Health, Denver Health, Saint Joseph Hospital and St. Mary\u2019s Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Grand Junction are enrolled in the trial.<\/p>\n

The randomized study aims to enroll 440 patients. Half will receive \u201cstepped\u201d mental health services: the amount and intensity of counseling increases with the severity of their assessment for emotional stress and depression. The control group will receive a list of local and national counseling resources.<\/p>\n

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute<\/a>, which investigates the effectiveness of treatment options, funds the $1.9 million study, slated to conclude in 2020. The Birges qualified for the trial and began counseling sessions in June 2019.<\/p>\n

Mental health support for cancer patients a needed service<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The physical effects of head and neck and lung cancer treatments \u2013 difficulty swallowing and breathing, pain, nausea, coughing, weight loss and fatigue, for example \u2013 can be tightly intertwined with emotional distress, said Dr. David Raben, a radiation oncologist<\/a> at UCHealth TomoTherapy Cancer Care Clinic \u2013 Lone Tree.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of these side effects can lead to symptoms of depression and feeling helpless,\u201d said Raben, who is a co-investigator in the study.<\/p>\n

During an interview in late June, Miguel put that observation in down-to-earth terms.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have trouble dealing with the end-of-life thoughts,\u201d he said. \u201cHow do I address the end of my life and how do I prepare for that? I\u2019ve been dealt some hard cards.\u201d<\/p>\n

Filling a gap in mental health support<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The PCORI trial builds on the findings of two earlier studies, noted principal investigator Dr. Evelinn Borrayo<\/a>, associate director of the CU Colorado Cancer Center and associate director of research with the Latino Research and Policy Center<\/a> at the Colorado School of Public Health. A small study in 2013 at Denver Health, dubbed EASE<\/a>, led by <\/u>Dr. Kristin Kilbourn<\/a>, <\/u>a licensed clinical psychologist with UCD, suggested that phone counseling for patients with head and neck cancers could help to \u201cbuffer\u201d the physical and emotional challenges of treatment. In 2016, another study at Denver Health<\/a> concluded that a lack of mental health services and access to them contributed to delays in medical treatment for underserved patients with head and neck and lung cancers.<\/p>\n

\"One
One of the Birges\u2019 four dogs. Their animals are reliable stress relievers. Photo courtesy of Miguel Birge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWhat was clear is that these patients need a lot of mental health support, but there is very little for [that] aspect of their treatment,\u201d Borrayo said.<\/p>\n

The EASE study, Borrayo added, indicated that it would be important to tailor counseling interventions to the mental health needs of each patient \u2013 some may experience few or no symptoms while others may be affected severely \u2013 and that patients could benefit from face-to-face meetings with counselors (although phone contact is still an option for patients who have trouble arranging transportation).<\/p>\n

Counseling that relieves depression and anxiety among patients and caregivers is important simply to improve their quality of life. But it can also play a vital role in keeping a patient\u2019s treatment regimen on track, Raben noted.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe worry of whether the treatment is going to work, compounded with the symptoms they experience during treatment, can really wear a patient out and make them lose their desire and passion for life every day,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Raben\u2019s words echo those of Miguel as he contemplates a battle he said is worth fighting but he also concedes will be very difficult to win.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe issue is that you get so beat down physically that it converts to mental stress,\u201d he said. \u201cEventually you get tired of fighting that. It wears on you. Some people just get so tired that they want it to stop.\u201d<\/p>\n

The PCORI study\u2019s emphasis on including mental health services as an integral part of care for head and neck and lung cancer patients addresses a fundamental health care problem, Raben added.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an area that warrants further research and support because many times patients who are underserved don\u2019t have access to health care that others do and many do not get the best or optimized, proactive care while they undergoing treatment or after treatment for these types of cancer,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Staying on track<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Feelings of depression and anxiety must be addressed if a patient is to benefit fully from treatment, said Alejandra Solis, a licensed treatment therapist with Denver Health who is working with both Miguel and Bonnie.<\/p>\n

\"Dr.
UCHealth radiation oncologist Dr. David Raben sees mental health as an essential part of his patients’ medical treatment. Photo by UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe try to help people think of ways to adjust to the unknown,\u201d Solis said. \u201cIf they are feeling depressed, they might stop taking their medications or engage in unhealthy behaviors. We know that everything is connected, so if one piece is not functioning properly, everything is affected.\u201d<\/p>\n

Caregivers are a key part of that connection, so the trial focuses on also helping them to find ways to cope, Solis added.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very important for caregivers to take care of themselves,\u201d she said. \u201cI ask them, \u2018What do you do for yourself?\u2019 If we\u2019re not taking care of ourselves, how can we be expected to take care of others?\u201d<\/p>\n

Bonnie helped Miguel through his previous bouts with disease and injury, but acknowledged his lung cancer diagnosis has created new pressures. There is financial stress \u2013 Bonnie\u2019s job as a mechanical engineer is the couple\u2019s primary source of income \u2013 but fear of what lies ahead is a greater source of anxiety, she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy biggest concern is looking at the future and not knowing,\u201d she said. \u201cIt feels like I won\u2019t have Miguel around when I retire. When I first found out that he had cancer, that was all I could think about. I dwelled on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Solis said she helps Bonnie and others in similar situations cope by focusing on things they can control rather than things they can\u2019t \u2013 the fact that a loved one has a serious disease being the primary example of that.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey can learn to decrease the symptoms of depression and anxiety by having information and power,\u201d Solis said. \u201cFor things they can\u2019t control, we talk about how to alleviate those feelings by going for a walk, calling a friend, writing in a journal, joining a group or identifying a passion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sources of support for cancer patients<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For both Miguel and Bonnie, their animals provide welcome distraction and comfort. Bonnie said she\u2019s also learning to focus on the present rather than obsess about the future.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have talked about instead of thinking so far out, living in today,\u201d she said. \u201cWhen I start thinking about the future now, I just remind myself that we\u2019re not there yet and that I need to take one day at a time and think about what I have today. I tell myself I have Miguel now and I need to enjoy the time I have with him now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Treatment
Treatment therapist Alejandra Solis provides coping strategies to both Miguel and Bonnie. Photo courtesy of Alejandra Solis.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Miguel said he\u2019s found help with coping strategies he learned and friends he made through Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). He\u2019s been sober for seven years. He wants to extend those support skills to patients with cancer, a choice he said Solis encourages.<\/p>\n

\u201cAA is another tool that I use to help me deal with the cancer issue, and I hope to use it to help others,\u201d he said. \u201cLife is not easy for everybody. Helping others to get through hard days helps me as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the same time, Miguel has also needed what Borrayo calls \u201cproblem-focused support\u201d for pain and nausea caused by his cancer and chemotherapy. In those instances, he\u2019s turned to the CARE (Clinical Assessment & Rapid Evaluation) Clinic at the CU Cancer Center, which helps to stabilize patients struggling with acute symptoms. The Birges said the clinic\u2019s providers \u2013 nurses, physicians and pharmacists \u2013 have so far prevented emergency department visits and hospitalizations for Miguel.<\/p>\n

Toward holistic treatment<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The study will ultimately evaluate how well counseling helps to lessen symptoms of depression and anxiety and perceived stress, improve quality of life and strengthen coping skills, Borrayo said. She would also like to see mental health support for cancer patients continue beyond treatment.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs time goes by and people survive, the support doesn\u2019t tend to be as available,\u201d she said. \u201cI honestly think we are focused on patients and not looking enough at survivorship as a long-term issue. Many [patients and caregivers] will continue to struggle with anxiety and depression for the rest of their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Raben\u2019s view, mental health support for cancer patients should be part of an overall symptom management strategy that includes nutritional support, exercise and software programs that connect patients and providers on a regular basis to address issues.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe more we can holistically approach patients and proactively manage them, the better our care will be,\u201d Raben said.<\/p>\n

For more information on the trial, contact Jose Barron at 303.724.5439 or <\/em>jose.barron@ucdenver.edu<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Miguel and Bonita (Bonnie) Birge first met in high school, when Bonnie\u2019s brother introduced them. The casual start became a lifetime commitment: they celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary in late June. Many others share their Aurora home, including four dogs, four cats and two snakes, which Miguel says are just as companionable and worthy of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2143,"featured_media":26588,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[113,28,241,3658,3479,2708,112,217],"class_list":["post-26586","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-innovative-care","tag-behavioral-health","tag-cancer-care-oncology","tag-cancer-services","tag-cancer-support-and-nurse-navigators","tag-counseling-services","tag-jan-bishop-cancer-center","tag-mental-health","tag-oncology"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nImpact study: Mental health support for cancer patients - UCHealth Today<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Study tests the effectiveness of providing mental health support to cancer patients who are underserved and battling lung, head and neck cancers.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/impact-study-mental-health-support-for-cancer-patients\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Closing the mental health care gap for cancer patients\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Study tests the effectiveness of providing mental health support to cancer patients who are underserved and battling lung, head and neck cancers.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/impact-study-mental-health-support-for-cancer-patients\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"UCHealth Today\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/uchealthorg\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2019-09-24T17:41:21+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-03-06T17:03:23+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/24091949\/Cancer-Mental-Health-2-Miguel-Constrictor.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Tyler Smith\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@uchealth\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@uchealth\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Tyler Smith\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/impact-study-mental-health-support-for-cancer-patients\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/impact-study-mental-health-support-for-cancer-patients\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Tyler Smith\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/98c85c0e40c4933eedcec2cd054f349d\"},\"headline\":\"Closing the mental health care gap for cancer patients\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-09-24T17:41:21+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-03-06T17:03:23+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/impact-study-mental-health-support-for-cancer-patients\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1971,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/impact-study-mental-health-support-for-cancer-patients\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2019\\\/09\\\/24091949\\\/Cancer-Mental-Health-2-Miguel-Constrictor.webp\",\"keywords\":[\"Behavioral health\",\"Cancer care\",\"Cancer services\",\"Cancer support and nurse navigators\",\"Counseling services\",\"Jan Bishop Cancer Center\",\"Mental health\",\"Oncology\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Innovative care\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/impact-study-mental-health-support-for-cancer-patients\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/impact-study-mental-health-support-for-cancer-patients\\\/\",\"name\":\"Impact study: Mental health support for cancer patients - UCHealth Today\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/impact-study-mental-health-support-for-cancer-patients\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/impact-study-mental-health-support-for-cancer-patients\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2019\\\/09\\\/24091949\\\/Cancer-Mental-Health-2-Miguel-Constrictor.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-09-24T17:41:21+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-03-06T17:03:23+00:00\",\"description\":\"Study tests the effectiveness of providing mental health support to cancer patients who are underserved and battling lung, head and neck cancers.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/impact-study-mental-health-support-for-cancer-patients\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/impact-study-mental-health-support-for-cancer-patients\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/impact-study-mental-health-support-for-cancer-patients\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2019\\\/09\\\/24091949\\\/Cancer-Mental-Health-2-Miguel-Constrictor.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2019\\\/09\\\/24091949\\\/Cancer-Mental-Health-2-Miguel-Constrictor.webp\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":1200,\"caption\":\"A boa constrictor (he has two) offers Miguel solace as he battles cancer. Photo courtesy of Miguel Birge.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/impact-study-mental-health-support-for-cancer-patients\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Closing the mental health care gap for cancer patients\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/\",\"name\":\"UCHealth Today\",\"description\":\"UCHealth Today\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"UCHealth\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2020\\\/04\\\/24135149\\\/UCHealth-square-logo-1000x1000-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2020\\\/04\\\/24135149\\\/UCHealth-square-logo-1000x1000-1.jpg\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":1000,\"caption\":\"UCHealth\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/uchealthorg\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/uchealth\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/uchealth\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/school\\\/14839\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pinterest.com\\\/uchealthorg\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/channel\\\/UC41SJI79yjZIe96OajzN22g\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/98c85c0e40c4933eedcec2cd054f349d\",\"name\":\"Tyler Smith\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d9cf06f094860ff4c88dfe85d3c79a05724744cb3f865253e7b928d904aaad8e?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d9cf06f094860ff4c88dfe85d3c79a05724744cb3f865253e7b928d904aaad8e?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d9cf06f094860ff4c88dfe85d3c79a05724744cb3f865253e7b928d904aaad8e?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Tyler Smith\"},\"description\":\"Tyler Smith has been a health care writer, with a focus on hospitals, since 1996. He served as a writer and editor for the Marketing and Communications team at University of Colorado Hospital and UCHealth from 2007 to 2017. More recently, he has reported for and contributed stories to the University of Colorado School of Medicine, the Colorado School of Public Health and the Colorado Bioscience Association.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/author\\\/smiths3\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Impact study: Mental health support for cancer patients - UCHealth Today","description":"Study tests the effectiveness of providing mental health support to cancer patients who are underserved and battling lung, head and neck cancers.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/impact-study-mental-health-support-for-cancer-patients\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Closing the mental health care gap for cancer patients","og_description":"Study tests the effectiveness of providing mental health support to cancer patients who are underserved and battling lung, head and neck cancers.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/impact-study-mental-health-support-for-cancer-patients\/","og_site_name":"UCHealth Today","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/uchealthorg\/","article_published_time":"2019-09-24T17:41:21+00:00","article_modified_time":"2023-03-06T17:03:23+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/24091949\/Cancer-Mental-Health-2-Miguel-Constrictor.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Tyler Smith","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@uchealth","twitter_site":"@uchealth","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Tyler Smith","Est. reading time":"10 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/impact-study-mental-health-support-for-cancer-patients\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/impact-study-mental-health-support-for-cancer-patients\/"},"author":{"name":"Tyler Smith","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#\/schema\/person\/98c85c0e40c4933eedcec2cd054f349d"},"headline":"Closing the mental health care gap for cancer patients","datePublished":"2019-09-24T17:41:21+00:00","dateModified":"2023-03-06T17:03:23+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/impact-study-mental-health-support-for-cancer-patients\/"},"wordCount":1971,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/impact-study-mental-health-support-for-cancer-patients\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/24091949\/Cancer-Mental-Health-2-Miguel-Constrictor.webp","keywords":["Behavioral health","Cancer care","Cancer services","Cancer support and nurse navigators","Counseling services","Jan Bishop Cancer Center","Mental health","Oncology"],"articleSection":["Innovative care"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/impact-study-mental-health-support-for-cancer-patients\/","url":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/impact-study-mental-health-support-for-cancer-patients\/","name":"Impact study: Mental health support for cancer patients - UCHealth Today","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/impact-study-mental-health-support-for-cancer-patients\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/impact-study-mental-health-support-for-cancer-patients\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/24091949\/Cancer-Mental-Health-2-Miguel-Constrictor.webp","datePublished":"2019-09-24T17:41:21+00:00","dateModified":"2023-03-06T17:03:23+00:00","description":"Study tests the effectiveness of providing mental health support to cancer patients who are underserved and battling lung, head and neck cancers.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/impact-study-mental-health-support-for-cancer-patients\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/impact-study-mental-health-support-for-cancer-patients\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/impact-study-mental-health-support-for-cancer-patients\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/24091949\/Cancer-Mental-Health-2-Miguel-Constrictor.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/24091949\/Cancer-Mental-Health-2-Miguel-Constrictor.webp","width":1200,"height":1200,"caption":"A boa constrictor (he has two) offers Miguel solace as he battles cancer. Photo courtesy of Miguel Birge."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/impact-study-mental-health-support-for-cancer-patients\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Closing the mental health care gap for cancer patients"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/","name":"UCHealth Today","description":"UCHealth Today","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#organization","name":"UCHealth","url":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/24135149\/UCHealth-square-logo-1000x1000-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/24135149\/UCHealth-square-logo-1000x1000-1.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"caption":"UCHealth"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/uchealthorg\/","https:\/\/x.com\/uchealth","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/uchealth\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/school\/14839\/","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/uchealthorg\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC41SJI79yjZIe96OajzN22g"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#\/schema\/person\/98c85c0e40c4933eedcec2cd054f349d","name":"Tyler Smith","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d9cf06f094860ff4c88dfe85d3c79a05724744cb3f865253e7b928d904aaad8e?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d9cf06f094860ff4c88dfe85d3c79a05724744cb3f865253e7b928d904aaad8e?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d9cf06f094860ff4c88dfe85d3c79a05724744cb3f865253e7b928d904aaad8e?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Tyler Smith"},"description":"Tyler Smith has been a health care writer, with a focus on hospitals, since 1996. He served as a writer and editor for the Marketing and Communications team at University of Colorado Hospital and UCHealth from 2007 to 2017. More recently, he has reported for and contributed stories to the University of Colorado School of Medicine, the Colorado School of Public Health and the Colorado Bioscience Association.","url":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/author\/smiths3\/"}]}},"coauthors":[{"id":2143,"name":"Tyler Smith","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/author\/smiths3\/"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26586","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2143"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26586"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26586\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65561,"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26586\/revisions\/65561"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26588"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26586"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26586"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26586"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}