1. +
Examining the Special Needs of
Collegiate Cancer Patients
and the Use of Integrative Medicine
Rachael Miller

2. +
What is Cancer?
 A group of diseases involving uncontrollable abnormal cell
growth with the potential to invade or spread to other
parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems
 100 types grouped into 5 main categories
 Carcinoma
 Sarcoma
 Leukemia
 Lymphoma and Myeloma
 Central Nervous System Cancers

3. +
Cancer and Body Image
 Body image is a multidimensional psychological construct
that encompasses body-related and self-attitudes, including
thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors.
 Being inflicted with a chronic illness, like cancer, has a
negative impact on body image and self-esteem
 Changes in attitude, mental stability, and physical appearance
are common
 A study published in the British Journal of Medical
Psychology showed that the domain of body image plays a
central role in the quality of life of patients with
haematological malignancies.

4. +
Integrative Medicine
 Combines alternative medicine with evidence-based medicine
 “I tell my patients that I think of cancer as a weed. Modern
western oncology is focused on destroying the weed while
integrative oncology concentrates on the soil the weed grows in
and on making the soil as inhospitable as possible to the
growth and spread of the weed.”
–Dr. Abrams (the former director of Clinical Programs at the
University of California, San Francisco Osher Center for Integrative
Medicine)

5. +The Positive Effects of Integrative Medicine
 Study conducted in the United Kingdom tested a combined
approach for treating cancer along with depression. Individuals
inflicted with cancer that also development depressive
symptoms require a combined treatment approach.
 Group 1: received usual care
 Group 2: received usual care combined with intervention
 Another study measured cancer patients’ distress levels.
 They determined that distress often requires pharmacologic
intervention but it should be combined with encouragement and
support from healthcare professionals, not only family and friends.

6. +
Collegiate Cancer Patients
 Also face time-management concerns, including keeping up
with schoolwork, while considering the possibility of taking a
medical leave of absence.
 Cancer is the fourth leading cause of death among college age
students, only behind unintentional injuries, homicide, and
suicide.
 There are very few, if any, programs available specifically
targeted to help collegiate cancer patients.

7. +
What can be done?
My Study

8. +
Hypothesis
 Collegiate cancer patients are an underserved population, with
very few programs available to them as well as minimal
accessible support. Training professors, faculty, and student
leaders to professionally and adequately support an individual
inflicted with cancer during college could greatly benefit a
student through a rough transition.

9. +
Background
 I was a Resident Assistant at Becker College for two years.
 An important role of an RA is to help students through any
difficulty that might come up during the year.
 Training covered depression, homesickness, roommate
conflicts, struggling with classes, etc. but NEVER cancer or any
chronic illness.
 “Cancer is a disease that is hitting college students and young
adults nationwide. Regardless of race, ethnicity, gender,
orientation, or political views, everyone is at risk. Cancer
doesn’t discriminate. This isn’t some disease of the future, it’s
affecting college students, and it’s affecting them now.”

10. +
What do Becker students say?
 60 Becker College students were surveyed
 Prior to taking the survey, they were not informed of the
hypothesis or the goal of the study
 46 females and 14 males
 Majors varied as seen in
the graph on the right.

11. +
Cancer in Our Community
 1/3 of the students surveyed said that they know a
college student that is inflicted with cancer
 Furthermore, 1/3 of the students said that they do
not feel well versed with common cancer treatments
and their side effects
 Open ended question

12. +
Results From Body Image Questions
 Only 28% of the students surveyed said that they
believed people with cancer “look a certain way”
 90% of the females surveyed said that they would
wear a wig or a hat to “hide it” if they lost their hair
 57% of the males surveyed said that they would
wear a wig or a hat to “hide it” if they lost their hair

13. +
If you were diagnosed cancer
tomorrow…
 Almost 60% of the students surveyed said that their biggest
initial challenge would be telling their family about their
diagnosis
 22% said that their biggest initial challenge would be telling
their friends
 Only 2 students out of the 60 surveyed said that they would be
most willing to talk to a school counselor throughout that time.

14. +
What would you be afraid to talk to
a friend about if they had cancer?
 Cancer treatments (progress, affects on their body, etc.)
 20% said yes
 College (schoolwork, missing classes, taking a medical leave)
 10% said yes
 How their family is coping
 27% said yes
 Activities that they have not been able to participate in
 27% said yes
 The future
 77% said yes

15. +
Conclusions
 Cancer among college students
is more common than typically
thought of.
 Cancer tends to have a negative
effect on body image and it is
worse in females.
 College campus staff should be
more educated on assisting a
student inflicted with cancer.