The Caring and Cancer Project is an experimental study to evaluate an instructional DVD program for caregivers in how to use simple touch and massage techniques at home to provide comfort and relaxation to the patient. Researchers have found these methods can safely reduce symptoms and side effects. We want to see how effective the DVD program is in teaching caregivers at home.

The title of the DVD program is "Touch, Caring and Cancer: Simple Instruction for Family and Friends." The program is 78 minuts long and is accompanied by an illustrated manual. It is currently being used by 97 caregiver/patient dyads, including white, African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Asian participants. The program is available in English, Spanish and Chinese language versions (both Mandarin and Cantonese). Participants in the project are from Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Oregon and Washington.

The program features two of the nation's leading experts in massage for cancer, Tracy Walton, MS, NCTMB, and Janet Kahn, PhD, NCTMB. Other contributors are William Collinge, PhD, the project director; David Rosenthal, MD, of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, and former president of the American Cancer Society; and Susan Bauer-Wu, PhD, RN, Distinguished Cancer Scholar at Emory University. The program also features eleven caregivers and patients who were filmed learning and practicing the techniques. We are delighted that the program has won two Telly Awards for excellence in independent film making, in the categories of "Social Issues," and "Health and Wellness."

Early unpublished findings from the study indicate that caregivers using the instruction from the DVD program have been able to safely reduce the severity of symptoms and treatment side effects in patients by 30-40%. The final results of the study will be available in September, 2009.

We anticipate releasing the program for public use in the summer of 2009. To see a preview, click here.