LANCE ARMSTRONG FOUNDATION AND EPEC-O FORM NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP
Organizations Will Facilitate Positive Relationships between Cancer Survivors, Caregivers and Healthcare Professionals

AUSTIN, Texas - December 5, 2005 - The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) and the Education in Palliative and End-of-Life Care for Oncology (EPEC-O) announced today the formation of a national partnership to improve communication between healthcare professionals and cancer survivors. 

In cooperation with the LAF, the EPEC Project will educate survivors and caregivers about cancer survivorship issues from the point of diagnosis through long-term treatment effects and end-of-life care.  The EPEC Project will develop educational materials to help facilitate a positive, proactive role and relationship between patients and healthcare teams. 

EPEC-O is recruiting cancer survivors and caregivers in the Chicago, Ill., area to participate in focus groups to aid in the development of educational materials.  The study will be led by principal investigator Linda Emanuel, MD, Ph.D., professor of medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.  For more information about these focus groups, contact Mary Jarzebowski by phone at (312) 503-1285 or email m-jarzebowski@northwestern.edu.

To help meet the needs of people affected by cancer, the LAF National Partnerships Program offers a coordinated, comprehensive approach that is aligned with the priorities established in the National Action Plan for Cancer Survivorship: Advancing Public Health Strategies.

The LAF National Partnerships Program increases the visibility of cancer survivorship issues and enhances the public health infrastructure surrounding survivorship.  The LAF identifies, evaluates and forms long-term, cooperative agreements with partner organizations, which leverage the strengths and resources of both organizations.  Together, the organizations address the physical, emotional and practical challenges of cancer.

About the Lance Armstrong Foundation
The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) inspires and empowers people affected by cancer. We help people with cancer focus on living; we believe that unity is strength, knowledge is power and attitude is everything. From the moment of diagnosis, the LAF provides the practical information and tools people with cancer need to live life on their own terms. The LAF serves its mission through advocacy, public health and research. Founded in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong, the LAF is located in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit www.livestrong.org.

About the Education in Palliative and End-of-Life Care for Oncology
The Education in Palliative and End-of-Life Care for Oncology (EPEC-O) project was designed to be a high-impact, wide-dissemination, train-the-trainer educational program to provide core palliative care skills to practicing physicians of all specialties in the USA, and through them to other medical professionals.  Through funds provided by the National Cancer Institute, the program was adapted for oncologists.