An Intervention to Help Patients and Caregivers Manage Stress and Improve Communication Skills When Talking About Cancer

Inclusion Criteria

• •For Patients:
• •Self-identifies as Latino/a
• •Diagnosis of poor prognosis advanced cancer defined as: (1) locally advanced or metastatic cancer (i.e., thoracic, gynecological, genitourinary cancer, pancreatic or lymphoma) or (2) disease progression following at least first line treatment
• •Fluent in English or Spanish
• •Age 18 or older
• •Has a primary informal caregiver (as defined by an unpaid individual who provides the patient with emotional, physical, and/or practical support) who is willing and able to participate in the study
• •Score of \</= 10 on the Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration Test (BOMC)
• •To assess whether a prognostic discussion occurred, the oncologist must answer "Yes" to the following: "Have you discussed the any of the following with Mr./Mrs./Ms. \[INSERT PATIENT"S NAME\]: If his/her cancer is curable, if his/her cancer is terminal, or his/her life expectancy: Yes/No Note: This question will be included in the email in which study staff request permission to contact the patient.
• •As per self-report, residency in New York or ability to complete sessions in New York to ensure that provision of TAC is covered by the professional licenses of TAC interventionists (i.e., social workers licensed in New York State) - AIMS 2 and 3 ONLY
• •Able to communicate over the phone for sessions
• •Willingness to be audio-recorded for assessments and study sessions
• •For Caregivers:
• •Is a primary informal caregiver (as defined by an unpaid individual who provides the patient with emotional, physical, and/or practical support) for a MSK patient
• •Fluent in English or Spanish
• •Age 18 or older
• •Score of \</= 10 on the Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration Test (BOMC)
• •As per self-report, residency in New York or ability to complete sessions in New York to ensure that provision of TAC is covered by the professional licenses of TAC interventionists (i.e., social workers licensed in New York State) - AIMS 2 and 3 ONLY
• •Able to communicate over the phone for sessions
• •Willingness to be audio-recorded for assessments and study sessions
• •Psychosocial expert eligibility requirements:
• •Current clinical practice and/or research with advanced cancer patients
• •A history of 5+ years working with advanced cancer patients. Experts across disciplines (e.g., social work, psychology) may be enrolled.
• •Fluent in English as self-reported by a fluency of "Very well"