Kansas City, Mo. – Back in the Swing®, Kansas City’s non-profit organization dedicated to promoting joyful, healthy and proactive living after breast cancer, has announced the recipients of the 2009 Back in the Swing Grants.
Through charitable donations and innovative fundraising events, Back in the Swing has provided awareness and financial support for survivorship programs throughout the metro. Additionally, Back in the Swing has funded the first-of-its-kind clinical research studies right here in Kansas City to help establish post-treatment care standards to be used by healthcare providers and breast cancer survivors throughout the country. This year’s grants support the following research studies, programs and organizations:
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Collaborative Breast Cancer Survivorship Research
Established in 2006 with funds raised by Back in the Swing, the Breast Cancer Survivorship Center at the University of Kansas Cancer Center is the first comprehensive, multii-disciplinary breast cancer survivorship center in the country. A grant was awarded to the Breast Cancer Survivorship Center to conduct research on post-treatment programs, in partnership with breast oncologists and researchers nationwide. The Back in the Swing grant funds an Energy Balance research program that combines weight loss and exercise for the prevention of cancer recurrence in survivors.
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Breast Cancer Survivorship Health Coordinator Programs
Truman Medical Center and Cancer Action were awarded grants to develop the first healthcare coordinator model for medical and psychosocial centers for Kansas City and the nation. Outcomes from the research model will be conducted in partnership with the Breast Cancer Survivorship Center at the University of Kansas Cancer Center to establish guidelines for post-treatment care for breast cancer survivors nationwide.
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Breast Cancer Survivorship Task Force
The task force was established by the seven survivorship programs benefitting from Back in the Swing funding: Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute, Shawnee Mission Medical Center, Truman Medical Center, The Breast Cancer Survivorship Center at The University of Kansas Cancer Center, the Now What!? Center at North Kansas City Hospital, Cancer Action and Turning Point. In a unique collaboration of healthcare providers, the seven organizations are committed to working together to create guidelines for delivering optimum breast cancer survivorship care.
Based in Kansas City, Mo., Back in the Swing, a 501(c)(3) public charity founded in 2000, is the first and only national, grassroots nonprofit organization exclusively dedicated to providing awareness, access, and financial support for multidisciplinary, personalized, post-treatment clinical and supportive healthcare, and academic medical research in the field of breast cancer survivorship.
The 2009 Back in the Swing Retail Therapy shopping event is October 12-18, where shoppers buy a $25 shopping card and receive up to 20% off at more than 850 retailers and restaurants throughout Kansas City. Shopping Cards will go on sales August 14. For more information or to learn more about post-treatment survivorship healthcare and services provided by seven area organizations, visit www.backintheswing.org or call (816-842-7444).