Sarah Schmalenberger, hornist and musicologist, has launched the Life
and Livelihood Study at http://www.musiciansurvivor.org in order to
examine the physical and occupational well-being of women musicians
who have had breast cancer. This national study has been designed to
develop a profile of how the diagnosis and treatment of the disease
affects women musicians. Physical problems during recovery from breast
cancer treatment can be particularly burdensome to musicians, because
of their physically demanding occupations or avocations.
Unfortunately, scientific research on the number of women musicians
diagnosed with breast cancer and the medical and occupational well-
being of musicians after breast cancer is essentially nonexistent.
Schmalenberger, herself a survivor of breast cancer who has struggled
with chronic pain from multiple surgeries, has assembled an
investigative team of researchers to conduct this study, which
features a web-based survey that musicians who have had completed
their breast cancer treatment can take online. Toward that end, she
invites all musicians who have had breast cancer to enroll in the
study at the web address, and she invites anyone who knows such a
"survivor" to encourage them to enroll in the study. Anonymity will be
guaranteed, and no names will be recorded.
Schmalenberger anticipates that the findings from this study will
provide a solid basis for further examination of the impact of breast
cancer not only on musicians, but also on those in other fields where
physical fitness, strength, and stamina are vital to occupational and
general well-being.
For more information, you may contact Schmalenberger at
scschmalenbe@stthomas.edu
http://www.musiciansurvivor.org
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