Over the next ten years in Nova Scotia, more than 3,000 women living with advanced breast cancer will need supportive care.

Using a participatory action research process, the project will bring together a group of innovative, young researchers with experienced cancer researchers to communicate and collaborate on their research to improve supportive care for women with advanced breast cancer.

The impact of ABC-SC is expected to include:
     - new insights and interventions by cancer patient navigators who screen for distress
     - a framework for guidelines for pain and other symptom control using medications
     - development of a study of physical activity
     - greater understanding of factors that influence the likelihood of receiving supportive cancer care         including:    - the impact of having diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease
                              - living in a rural area
                              - minority culture status
                              - socio-demographic factors
     - data to demonstrate the importance of listening to the views of next-of-kin
     - an analysis of the type and extent of costs of supportive cancer care

• ABC-SC Protocol (PDF)

• Award Announcment on BHCRI Website

Research Team (L-R): Back Row: Bev Lawson, Tallal Younis, David Haardt, Janice Howes, Marianne Arab; Middle Row: Fred Bruge, Chris Skedgel, Robin Urquhart, Judith Fisher; Front Row: Melanie Keats, Lynn Lethbrdige, Nicole McQuinn, Jennifer Payne, Grace Johnston; Missing: Geoff Porter and Danny Rayson.

Supportive care for women with advanced breast cancer (ABC-SC) is funded by a Breast Cancer Society of Canada/QEII Foundation Award for Breast  Cancer Research, through the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute.

ABC-SC emerged from and is supported by the Network for End of Life Studies (NELS).