What is the Education in Palliative and End-of-Life Care for Oncology Project?
In partnership with the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) will sponsor the Education in Palliative and End-of-life Care for Oncology (EPEC-O) Train-the-Trainer workshop. The workshop will offer a comprehensive curriculum to optimize care for patients with cancer throughout the course of their illness. Produced through the EPEC Project at the Buehler Center on Aging at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, the Train-the-Trainer workshop is a unique educational event that gives cancer care professionals the necessary knowledge and skills to train others about the best practices in supportive oncology and end-of-life care. The workshop addresses the important aspects of comprehensive cancer care, including combining antineoplastic therapy and palliative care, managing pain and symptoms, discussing clinical trials and preventing professional burnout.

How are the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) and EPEC-O working together to improve the lives of people affected by cancer?
The LAF and EPEC-O are partnering to improve communication between health care professionals and cancer survivors by educating survivors and caregivers about cancer survivorship issues from the point of diagnosis through long-term treatment effects and end-of-life care. Through the partnership, EPEC-O will develop a program that includes educational materials to help facilitate a positive, proactive role and relationship between patients and health care teams. The program will be launched at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting.    

How can I get involved?
You can help further the work of the LAF and EPEC-O by promoting the Train-the-Trainer curriculum to health care professionals in your community.  To order a copy of the curriculum, go to www.epec.net.