Evaluation of a workshop for survivors: Picking Up the Pieces.

As the cadre of cancer survivors grows, more information about the long-term impact of cancer and its treatment is becoming evident. Ovarian Cancer Canada (OCC) responded to identified needs of women who had been treated for ovarian cancer and developed a workshop program for survivors entitled, Picking Up the Pieces. This article describes the evaluation of the workshop, as it was offered to 170 survivors in eight sessions across Canada. The written surveys and in-depth interviews revealed the participants found the workshop very helpful in validating their experiences in coping as a survivor, connecting them with other survivors and a network of support, and providing practical tools to help them move forward to live the lives they envisioned. Cancer nurses are in ideal positions to encourage women to attend workshops designed for survivors. In addition, this program could serve as a model and be adapted for patients with other types of cancer.