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

• Utility of a psychosocial intervention in educating and improving awareness of the physical and psychological impact of cancer and in increasing knowledge about appropriate medical and psychosocial resources for cervical cancer survivors [ Time Frame: 12 months after study initiation ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Utility of a psychosocial intervention in improving psychological functioning (i.e., decreasing depression and anxiety) among cervical cancer survivors [ Time Frame: 12 months after study initiation ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Utility of a psychosocial intervention in improving social functioning (i.e., family support and communication) among cervical cancer survivors [ Time Frame: 12 months after study initiation ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

• Utility of a psychosocial intervention in educating and improving awareness of the physical and psychological impact of cancer and in increasing knowledge about appropriate medical and psychosocial resources for cervical cancer survivors [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Utility of a psychosocial intervention in improving psychological functioning (i.e., decreasing depression and anxiety) among cervical cancer survivors [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Utility of a psychosocial intervention in improving social functioning (i.e., family support and communication) among cervical cancer survivors [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

RATIONALE: Telephone counseling may help reduce depression and anxiety and improve the well-being and quality of life of cervical cancer survivors.

PURPOSE: This randomized clinical trial is studying how well psychosocial support works in 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.

• Cancer Survivor
• Cervical Cancer
• Psychosocial Effects of Cancer and Its Treatment

• Behavioral: telephone-based intervention
  Either 6 or 8 telephone educational sessions
• Other: counseling intervention
  counseling and communications studies
• Other: questionnaire administration
  Ancillary studies
• Other: study of socioeconomic and demographic variables
  Ancillary Studies
• Procedure: psychosocial assessment and care
  6 weeks or 8 weeks of psychoeducational telephone sessions

• Active Comparator: 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.
  Intervention: Other: questionnaire administration
• Experimental: 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.
  Interventions:

  • Behavioral: telephone-based intervention
  • Other: counseling intervention
  • Other: questionnaire administration
  • Other: study of socioeconomic and demographic variables
  • Procedure: psychosocial assessment and care

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