Tennessee Oncology is working with a local advisory board, with the goal of battling cancer easier and better. The group is seeking survivors of prostate and breast cancer, along with caregivers, to participate in focus groups to share their experiences.

“About a dozen of us are on this board and we are working in conjunction with Tennessee Oncology but not just specific to Tennessee Oncology, “said Tom Chandler, member of a community advisory board serving DeKalb and Putnam County.

“We are looking for people to participate in focus groups to help define, better define, or improve telehealth services for both DeKalb County and Putnam County. There are similar groups for other counties but the one I am involved in is specific to DeKalb and Putnam County,” he said.

“The plan would be to have focus groups from three different groups of people. One would be women who have or have had breast cancer. The second would be men who have or have had prostate cancer, and the third would be caregivers of anyone who has had cancer,” Chandler explained.

“These focus groups would have various numbers of meetings, and the participants would be paid $100 per meeting. For example, the breast cancer focus group would probably have three to four meetings in the April time frame and maybe over into May. The prostate cancer focus group will have one to two meetings and then the focus group for the caregivers would have three to four meetings. These would be private discussions.”

“Actually, members of the advisory board may be present at the beginning of the focus groups for an introduction of people, but this would be privately conducted by staff of Tennessee Oncology with the participants and the privacy of the people would be respected in terms of their health, etc. We are looking for volunteers for any of those three categories,” said Chandler.

Participant requirements for the Focus Group Discussion on Breast Cancer and Access to Treatment include the following:

·         Individual with breast cancer or survivor (any age, stage, or phase-in treatment)

·         Resident of DeKalb or Putnam County

·         3-4 meeting commitment

Participant compensation: $100 per meeting, Meal provided, and 100% confidential

Participant requirements for the Focus Group Discussion on Caregiver for an Individual with Breast or Prostate Cancer include the following:

·         Caregiver for Individual with breast or prostate cancer (any age, stage, or phase-in treatment)

·         Resident of DeKalb or Putnam County

·         3-4 meeting commitment

Participant compensation: $100 per meeting, Meal provided, and 100% confidential.

Participant requirements for a “One-on-One” Interview with Prostate Cancer Survivors and Access to Treatment include the following:

·         Individual with prostate cancer or survivor (any age, stage, or phase-in treatment)

·         Resident of DeKalb or Putnam County

·         1-2 meeting commitment

Participant compensation: $100 per meeting, and 100% confidential.

Your stories will help the Community Advisory Board develop and implement a rural telehealth supportive care program. They want to hear your story so they can help make cancer care better.

This study has been approved by the WCG IRB (Western Institutional Review Board – Copernicus Group) (WCG) IRB: Institutional Review Board.

To participate call Carol Noon at 615-250-1776 or email nest@tnonc.com.