The NWT Breast Health/Breast Cancer Action Group in partnership with the University of Sydney, Australia is offering a new program to support NWT women after cancer treatment. The program was developed under a Research License from the Aurora Research Institute.
Text Me Healthy (formerly the "Empower project") offers a free text messaging program for NWT women over the age of 18 who have completed treatment for breast, lung, ovarian, cervical and colorectal cancer in the past 10 years. Text messages will be sent via cell phone. To receive the messages women who sign up must have a cell phone or access to a cell phone. For example, a family member or friend with a cell phone can receive the messages and share with you.
The program is designed to fill a gap in cancer health care, where survivors are often left feeling on their own in finding their way to being healthy after cancer treatment. The text messaging program offers support, reliable information, and advice through text messages in topic areas such as mental health, physical activity, healthy eating and general wellbeing.
As Rosanna Strong, Board Member and Cancer Survivor has said: “I found personally, that so much of the cancer journey is focused on the actual treatments…. surgery, chemotherapy or radiation. What we are lacking in the NWT is the support after all that as you navigate the “new normal”. At a time when you need support the most to help deal with the emotions, lingering side effects of drugs and treatments, returning to work or finding a healthy balance to your life. The NWT Breast Health/Breast Cancer Action Group feels that supportive text messages can be one part in filling in that gap for NWT women experiencing cancer, especially in the smaller communities.”
The Text Me Healthy program has been developed with input from NWT women representing all NWT regions, who have had a cancer experience, provide support or care giving to women, have northern living experience, and/or expertise in areas such as culture, literacy, and northern health. The project is guided by a Project Advisory Committee and four Focus Groups provided insight into the topic areas for the text messages, developed draft messages, and the name for the program.
Learn more about the project at the NWT Breast Health/Breast Cancer Action Group's Facebook page and website.
Hotıì ts’eeda is proud to support the Text Me Healthy project, and has provided the project with communications support, promoted the initiative launch, and co-presented virtually at the 2024 Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology (CAPO) conference.
