LOL: It's All Improv After Cancer! The Impact of Improvisational Comedy on Well-Being Among Patients With Cancer

With over 14 million cancer survivors today in the United States comes a unique constellation
of challenges and opportunities for health care providers trying to optimize health at a time
when many patients are struggling and open to learning new skills for strengthening their own
resiliency and ability to cope. Not only does a significant subset of patients with cancer
experience an increase in negative emotions, such as distress, anxiety and depression, but
they often also experience a lack of positive emotions (Hart 2010). Managing distress and
improving well-being is critically important for optimal survivorship care. Treatment of
distress leads to better adherence to treatment, better communication, fewer calls and visits
to the oncologist's office, and avoidance of development of severe anxiety or depression
(Partridge, Wang et al. 2003; Carlson and Bultz 2004; 2014). Based on national guidelines,
distress is typically managed with pharmacologic options (i.e. benzodiazepines), support
groups, individual counseling, or chaplaincy services. To our knowledge, the role of a
structured improvisational comedy (improv) program in reducing distress and improving
well-being has never been evaluated in the oncology setting.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Female, diagnosed with breast cancer stage 1-3 (no distant metastases)

- Completed cancer treatment (including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biologic
treatment, and/or any combination) at least 1 month (30 days) from their last
treatment and no more than 12 months (365 days) post-treatment. Long term
hormonal/biologic treatments are ok.

- Female age ≥ 18

- Scores a at least 4/10 (≥4) on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Distress
Thermometer

- Agrees to complete study surveys

- Agrees to attend 6 improv classes

- English speaking

- Emotionally stable (per physician clearance) to participate in this series