$4M Study Teaches Lymphoma Survivors Resilience Skills

When cancer treatment ends, many lymphoma survivors describe feeling adrift in unfamiliar waters. A new $4 million National Cancer Institute study aims to teach them how to navigate what comes next.

SMART 3RP Lymphoma will enroll more than 250 adults within two years of completing treatment at three major cancer centers, including the University of Miami's Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. The program offers eight free virtual sessions in English and Spanish, making it accessible to survivors across the country.

"Resilience isn't a trait you either have or don't," said Dr. Frank Penedo, who leads the study at Sylvester. "It's a skill set, like learning to play a musical instrument."

That simple insight powers the entire program. Survivors will learn practical techniques to quiet their body's stress response, improve sleep and mood, and rebuild confidence in daily life through guided imagery, mindfulness, and cognitive strategies that help reframe unhelpful thoughts.

The timing matters because cancer survivorship brings layered challenges that treatments don't address. Lingering fatigue, financial strain, and worry about recurrence can trigger chronic stress that affects everything from sleep to immune function.

The 90-minute group sessions blend mind-body practices like yoga with positive psychology exercises that cultivate social support and healthy behaviors. Researchers will track improvements in anxiety, depression, physical functioning, and even hair cortisol levels, a biological marker of stress.

The Ripple Effect: This study represents more than research. Sylvester recently launched one of only a handful of dedicated survivorship institutes in the country, bringing together teams to deliver whole-person care that extends far beyond eliminating cancer cells. Dr. Penedo calls it "helping people thrive in every aspect of their lives," not just survive.

The same center has pioneered lymphoma treatments now used worldwide, including ICE chemotherapy and breakthrough drugs like brentuximab vedotin. Now they're ensuring survivors have the tools to reclaim vibrant lives after those treatments work.

Enrollment opens this year for survivors ready to learn that the waves after treatment don't have to feel quite so overwhelming.