Madison, WI (AHN) - The National Cancer Institute (NCI), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has awarded a second grant to the Center for Health Enhancement Systems Studies (CHESS) to continue their work on cancer communications research.

CHESS's five-year, $8.6 million grant will fund investigations into problems associated with cancer communication in the rapidly changing communication environment, according to a statement from the center's home, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

"We're thrilled to be able to continue the work that we've done in the last five years to improve the quality of life for patients with cancer," Beth Burnside, deputy director for the project and assistant professor in the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, said in the statement.

The NIH grant will fund three studies:

• Interactive Cancer Communication Systems (ICCS) in Lung Cancer: Evaluating Survival Benefits - examining quality of life outcomes following patients use of the communication system during advanced cancer treatment.
• Interactive Cancer Communication Systems' Directed Physical Activity Enhancement for Colon Cancer Survivors - providing information and support for newly diagnosed colon cancer survivors to increase physical activity, decrease distress and improve quality of life.
• Effectiveness of the CHESS E-Health Cancer Support Intervention in Population-based Care - providing information about the business and clinical cases for the interactive cancer communications system in the context of real-world use for cancer patients' care.