This year’s Global Academic Programs (GAP) Conference was held on April 3 to April 5 at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. The GAP Annual Conference is a forum for the faculty at MD Anderson and its Sister Institutions to develop collaborations and exchange research results and ideas. Among the Norwegian institutions participating in this year’s program were Oslo University Hospital, the Cancer Registry, and Stavanger University Hospital.
GAP2013 was held at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.Coping with the breast cancer diagnosis
Several Norwegians held presentations on a variety of topics related to cancer research over the course of the conference. One of them was Kirsten Lode from Stavanger University Hospital, who presented an outline of her research project concerning breast cancer and discussed the early findings of the project. Titled “I am not the same,” Lode’s research project is an implementation study that focuses on the use of expressive writing as a therapeutic method. Expressive writing has been pioneered by Professor James W. Pennebaker at the University of Austin, Texas since the late 1980s. “I am not the same” is the first of its kind to test the method with Norwegian breast cancer patients. The team carrying out the study consists of three researchers with different backgrounds. In addition to Lode, who is a trained nurse and researcher at Stavanger University Hospital, the study has been developed and executed by breast cancer surgeon Håvard Søiland and cultural studies researcher Birgitta Haga Gripsrud.
The study was launched following GAP2012, which was held in Norway from May 14 to May 16, and it is a collaborative effort between Stavanger University Hospital and MD Anderson Cancer Center. Notably, GAP2012 marked the first time that MD Anderson chose to hold their annual conference outside of Houston, and is a testament to the close relationship that the institution currently enjoys with the Norwegian research community in Oslo and Stavanger.
Behind the study lies the realization that women who are diagnosed with breast cancer often develop a range of psychosocial concerns, including emotional distress, changes in self and body image, helplessness and a fear of dying. It is also well established that patients suffering from breast cancer tend to develop worries about how their diagnosis will affect those around them. The pilot study “I am not the same” focuses on the use of expressive writing as a therapeutic method to overcome these psychosocial concerns and as a way to cope with the breast cancer diagnosis and the experience of having a breast removed.
A study made possible by Marathon
As part of their larger goal of being an active philanthropist and a company with strong emphasis on social responsibility, Marathon Oil has contributed $100.000 to Stavanger University Hospital’s breast cancer research. These funds have enabled Lode and her colleagues to launch “I am not the same.” As Dr. Lode underlines, without Marathon the study would never have seen the light of day:
“The donation from Marathon has been absolutely crucial to us in both designing and executing this research project. The funds that Marathon provided us with has allowed us to hire Birgitta Haga Gripsrud, and with her onboard we have been able to highlight the impact of breast cancer on our patients in a more comprehensive way than we would by only looking at this from a medical perspective. In essence, this interdisciplinary approach, where the cultural breast is emphasized, is what makes the study so innovative and unique,” Lode says.
As Lode goes on to explain, in her capacity of being a cultural studies researcher, Gripsrud brings another dimension to the pilot study which makes it distinctly different from other studies that deal with the same topic. While other studies frequently approach breast cancer through a view of the breast as a human organ or as a part of the body serving a specific function, “I am not the same” puts a larger emphasis on all of the various conceptual meanings of the female breast. In particular, the study highlights the cultural role of the breast, and its strong ties to female identity and sexuality. Breasts have been shown to have had a widespread cultural importance throughout history – as is exemplified in old statues and in tales of ancient battles, up until their contemporary relevance in the work of modern day artists.
Kirsten Lode, left, and Birgitta Haga Gripsrud, right, interviewing their first patient, Kristi J. Solheim. Photo: Jon Ingemundsen (Stavanger Aftenblad)The importance of cultural factors
Early findings underline that such cultural aspects should not be underestimated when considering the impact of breast cancer surgery. Removing a breast often results in a wide range of psychological, relational as well as physiological concerns for patients. By encouraging patients to express their emotions by turning to writing, Lode’s team believes that many of the natural concerns that arise for women afflicted with breast cancer can more easily be dealt with. The writing becomes therapy, and a way for the patient to confront and cope with her inner fears and concerns.
Two years ago, Kirsten Lode spoke about this topic at GAP. The pilot study collaboration with MD Anderson has come into effect as a result of this, and at this year’s conference Lode was able to present some of the results. This, Lode notes, is an example of how GAP serves to advance research with global relevance. Lode is also hoping to use GAP to take the study further.
“Right now we are looking to use the Sister Institution Network here at GAP to extend our study to cover women from the different areas of the world, in order to see in what ways cross-cultural differences manifest themselves in the patients’ writings,” says Lode.
Of particular interest to the group of researchers involved in the project is the potential impact of societal gender roles, and how the variations in such gender roles across cultural borders might result in different experiences following the removal of a breast.
A thorough report on the findings in the study, involving writings and interviews from both Norwegian and American women, will be published by Stavanger University Hospital and MD Anderson Cancer Center in the near future. This report will show how the findings in the study can only work to encourage a more widespread use of untraditional therapeutic methods, such as expressive writing, in dealing with diseases that affect deep-rooted cultural beliefs and hence take a strong toll on the patient’s emotions.
To stay tuned with the recent developments of the study, be sure to visit the project website: http://notthesamebreast.org/