Enhancing Connections
A program to help the mother with breast cancer support her child

Helping Her Heal
A program for spouses of women with breast cancer

Family Functioning Research Team

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Family Functioning Research Team:

Mary Ellen Shands, RN, MN

Mary Ellen Shands, RN, MN has been a member of the Family Functioning Research Team for 16 years. She is currently the Senior Interventionist for the Enhancing Connections study and the Helping Her Heal pilot study. Additionally she is the Recruitment Manager, overseeing recruitment efforts on all grants. Her clinical and research interests focus on assisting individuals and families manage the experience of cancer. She is also involved in clinical practice through her work with Cancer Lifeline where she is Family Consultant and Program Associate.

Her publications include:

1989 Shands, M.E., & Zahlis, E.H. For men: When your partner has breast cancer. [Booklet]. Family Functioning in Chronic Illness Study, RO1 NR01000-05. Seattle, WA: University of Washington.

1990 Shands, M.E. & Tesik, J. Understanding children's grief: A guide for adults helping children experiencing loss. [Booklet]. Seattle, WA: Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound.

1990 Shands, M.E., & Zahlis, E.H. Families and illness. In W.J. Phipps, B.C. Long, N.F. Woods & V.L. Cassmeyer (Eds.), Medical-surgical nursing concepts and clinical practice (4th ed.) (pp. 121-131). St. Louis, MO: C.V. Mosby.

1991 Zahlis, E.H., & Shands, M.E. The demands of the illness on the patient's partner. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 9(1), 75-93.

1993 Zahlis, E.H., & Shands, M.E. The impact of breast cancer on the partner eighteen months following diagnosis. Seminars in Oncology Nursing, 9(2), 83-87.

1996 Lewis, F.M., Zahlis, E.Z., Shands, M.E., Sinsheimer, J.A., & Hammond, M.A. The functioning of single women with breast cancer and their school-aged children. Cancer Practice, 4(1), 1-10.

1998 Shands, M.E. Intervention helps breast cancer victims. Puget Sound Quarterly, 21(3), 12-13.

2000 Shands, M.E., Lewis, F.M., & Zahlis, E.H. Mother and child interactions about the mother's breast cancer: An interview study. Oncology Nursing Forum, 27(1), 77-85.

2000 Lewis, F.M., Behar, L., Anderson, KH, Shands, ME, Zahlis, EH, Darby, E & Sinsheimber, JA. Blowing away the myths about the child's experience with the mother's breast cancer. Cancer and the Family, 2nd Edition (pp. 201-221). L. Baider, C.L. Cooper & A. Kaplan De-Nour, Eds. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

2003 Lewis, F.M., Casey, S.M, Brandt, P.A., Shands, M.E., and Zahlis, E.H. A pilot study of the Enhancing Connections Program: Helping families with breast cancer. Under review

PAPERS IN PROGRESS

2003 Shands, M.E., Lewis, F.M., Sinsheimer, J.A. Coaching couples experiencing early stage breast cancer: An analysis of their stated concerns.

UW School of Nursing