Cancer and the Family

Cancer and the Family: It is well recognized that cancer often leaves behind residual physical, emotional and social consequences on individuals with the disease. These effects, negative and positive, vary from person to person andfamily are shaped by health and disease factors, intrapersonal characteristics, and available resources and social support. Evidence also supports the idea that cancer, similar to other potentially life threatening illness, can have a pervasive impact on the family with personal, emotional, physical, familial, and social consequences.
• Drs. Bellizzi and Blank have recently received funding to examine the impact of colorectal cancer on families for the development of assessment tools and clinical interventions to help families who may be struggling. Partnering with Research Colleagues from Hartford Hospital, a survey of cancer survivors and family members is being conducted to assess the impact of colorectal cancer on the survivor, their spouse/partner and off-spring of men and women over the age of 60 during the post-treatment and recovery phase (2-5 years from diagnosis) of the cancer experience.

• Dr. Blank and colleagues are developing a project with colleagues at UConn and Hartford Hospital researchers and clinicians to develop studies of spouses/partners of survivors, focusing on both impacts of sexual function losses and broader feelings of relationship closeness. He is also examining couple dynamics and perceptions of the impact on each other in longer term survivors.