Fear of Recurrence Therapy (FORT) is a manualized, validated and standardized intervention. FORT therapy consists of 6 weekly group sessions of 90-120 minutes each. The FORT program is based on 6 major goals:
- Differentiating concerning symptoms from harmless ones.
- Identifying triggers and non-adaptive coping strategies.
- Learning new coping strategies such as relaxation techniques and cognitive restructuring.
- Increasing your tolerance for uncertainty.
- Promoting the emotional expression of specific fears that underlie fear of cancer recurrence.
- Re-examining your life priorities and setting realistic goals for the future.
Who is eligible for FORT therapy group:
- Adults (aged 18 years and over)
- English or French speaking
- Men and women diagnosed with cancer and followed at the MUHC.
- Individuals who have completed their oncology treatments.
- Individuals diagnosed with cancer within 5 years of their last oncology treatment.
- Individuals experiencing a significant level of fear of cancer recurrence.
Want to know more about the evidence of FORT (see article below)
Maheu C, Lebel S, Bernstein LJ, Courbasson C, Singh M, Ferguson SE, Harris C, Jolicoeur L, Baku L, Muraca L, Ramanakumar AV, Lamonde F, Lefebvre M, Tomei C, Mutsaers B, Secord S, Power J, Drummond N, Hébert M, Wani RJ. Fear of cancer recurrence therapy (FORT): A randomized controlled trial. Health Psychol. 2023 Mar;42(3):182-194. doi: 10.1037/hea0001253. PMID: 36862474. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36862474/
For more information about joining FORT, please contact us at ext. 45502.