The Wellness Through Cancer digital storytelling and leadership development program is a collaboration between Community & Leadership Development, the Kentucky Cancer Consortium (KCC), and StoryCenter. This project was initiated as part of KCC’s “Nutrition and Physical Activity (NUPA) for Cancer Survivors” intervention. Kentucky is trying to ramp up coordinated supports for cancer survivors and began convening statewide partners in 2021 to develop an engagement plan. As part of this effort, Dr. Breazeale developed an eight-week workshop to engage Kentucky cancer survivors in creating a 3–4-minute digital story about their personal experience trying to achieve wellness through cancer. StoryCenter is a national organization that supports individuals in using digital storytelling methods for reflection, education, and social change; this organization was brought in to provide technical support. 

The pilot ran from May – June 2022. Five cancer survivors were enrolled in the program and four completed a digital story. The project participants were recruited through our partner organizations and included diversity across race, social class, gender, age, type of cancer, and region of the state. These powerful videos will be integrated into educational curricula to open the door for deeper conversation with health care professionals and cancer survivors about the desire for survivors to access nourishing food and other resources that heal, including mental health support. The stories hit on every major issue covered in the Kick Kentucky Cancer curriculum developed recently by FCS; we are discussing how best to integrate them into the curriculum to enhance engagement and deepen discussions. KCC will also promote the stories.

Importantly, all the program participants have asked to continue in a leadership role, using their stories to break the silence around cancer, and speaking directly with educators, health professionals, and elected officials (this was the leadership development aspect of the program, which was extremely successful).  One participant reflected on the program: 

“I have had a few days now to reflect on the “Wellness Through Cancer Project.” It was a positive experience. Listening to the [other participants] tell their stories was breathtaking.…..Let me say again, the support you and Marie provided was the key to the success of the project.  The timing of the individual sessions was perfect, just when needed. Thank you for helping me bridge the gap and continuing moving forward.”

Lastly, Wellness Through Cancer was featured as part of an invited talk given by Dr. Breazeale at the annual KCC’s virtual Patient Navigator Symposium. As a result, several of the 100+ attendees have reached out to Kentucky Cancer Program leadership to request assistance in doing storytelling work in their regions and counties. This is an exciting opportunity given that storytelling is one of the most powerful community engagment tools we have.