Testing of the Cancer Thriving and Surviving Breast Cancer Program

The adjusted Cancer Thriving and Surviving Program (CTS) for women with breast cancer living in Switzerland (CTS-BC-CH) is a course of 7 weekly sessions of 2.5 - 3 hours led by trained peer-leaders (women with breast cancer experience). This pilot study aims to explore the reach of the CTS-BC-CH program (integrated into the clinical pathway) and to investigate its preliminary effectiveness with regard to Swiss breast cancer patients' self-efficacy and self-management.

In 2016/17, the self-management program for cancer survivors, the Cancer Thriving and Surviving Program (CTS) was translated into German. The content of the CTS was adapted to breast cancer specific needs in three interdisciplinary workshops based on a participatory approach including active patient engagement. Additional disease-specific topics were developed and confirmed applying a multi-stakeholder e-rating approach. After a consensus meeting with the participation of breast cancer survivors, health care professional and international experts in the field of self-management, consensus on the program was reached in June 2017, resulting in the CTS-BC-CH program, i.e. a standardized manual for course leaders. This pilot study aims to explore the reach of the CTS-BC-CH program (integrated into the clinical pathway) and to investigate its preliminary effectiveness for female Swiss breast cancer patients. The CTS-BC-CH is delivered in two breast cancer centers in in the German-speaking part of Switzerland as a group-based program with seven weekly sessions of 2.5 - 3 hours led by trained peer-leaders. Course leaders have to complete a 4-days training provided by certified master trainers. First, participants are enrolled for usual care, followed by participants who will attend the CTS-BC-CH course. Participants will complete self-reported questionnaires at three time points over a period of 6 months.