Here at Cactus Cancer Society, we’re always interested in amplifying the voices and experiences of young adults facing cancer, and making sure this population is represented in research. Click on the study titles below to learn more about each research opportunity and how you can use your story to help others!
Study Description
AYA Connect provides digital tools and strategies to help AYAs adopt healthier habits, reach a healthier weight, and improve their overall health. It also provides an opportunity for AYAs to participate in important research to help us understand more about ways to help post-treatment AYAs lead healthier lifestyles.
Am I Eligible to Participate?
You are eligible to participate if you:
- Are currently aged 18-39
- Were diagnosed with cancer (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) at age 15 or older
- Have completed cancer treatment
- Have a body mass index between 25 and 50
- Own an iPhone with a data and text messaging plan
What Will I Be Asked to Do?
All participants will receive a comprehensive digital weight management program focused on improving diet quality, increasing physical activity, and reaching a healthier weight. The program components include a Fitbit physical activity tracker, a smart scale, access to the study mobile app, a kickoff session by videochat with a health coach, and tailored feedback messages in the study app. You will be asked to complete online questionnaires and other measurements at the start of the study and after 3 and 6 months. You will be sent a Fitbit to track physical activity for 7 days and a digital smart scale to measure your weight at all time points. Most importantly, you will learn strategies that will help you promote a healthier lifestyle for today and the future.
Will I Be Compensated?
Participants will receive a Fitbit activity tracker and digital smart scale (valued at up to $195 for both depending on Fitbit model selected) to track your activity and weight. Participants will also receive up to $120 for completing all study questionnaires and measurements. Participants local to Chapel Hill, North Carolina have the option to complete their measurements at our research center for an additional $10 per measurement visit.
How Do I Sign Up?
To sign up to participate, visit www.uncweightresearch.org/aya-connect
Study Description
The purpose of the study is to learn more about the thinking and memory abilities of young adults with and without a history of cancer through surveys and brain games.
Am I Eligible to Participate?
You are eligible to participate if you:
- Are between the ages of 18 and 30
- Were diagnosed with non-CNS cancer between the ages of 13 and 30
- Have no history of psychiatric or neurological disorders or recent brain injury or stroke
What Will I Be Asked to Do?
You’ll be asked to complete two surveys and a cognitive assessment, use a brain game app on a Fitbit up to 5 times a day for 10 days, and participate in a follow-up interview.
Will I Be Compensated?
Participants will receive up to $100 in compensation for completion of the entire study.
How Do I Sign Up?
To sign up to participate, visit redcap.link/crcirealityusf or email dbtometich@usf.edu
Study Description
The purpose of the study is to better understand the day-to-day experiences of caregivers of young adult cancer patients in order to learn how to enhance caregiver well-being.
Am I Eligible to Participate?
You are eligible to participate if you:
- Are age 18 or older
- Are currently an informal caregiver
- Care for a patient who is between the ages of 18 and 35
What Will I Be Asked to Do?
You’ll be asked to complete two 30-minute surveys (one at the beginning and one at the end of the study), as well as 4 daily 3-minute surveys over the course of two weeks.
Will I Be Compensated?
Participants will receive up to $100 in compensation.
How Do I Sign Up?
To sign up email Ximena Giesemann at ximena.giesemann@cgu.edu
Study Description
Help us better support young adults with cancer and their families! This study is a one-time anonymous online survey that takes 15-20 minutes to complete about things adolescents, young adults, and families may consider when deciding whether to join a clinical trial. We know that children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer being treated on clinical trials are more likely to survive. We also know it can be difficult to join and stay on a clinical trial. We want to know what makes it hard to participate in research studies so we can help make it easier for patients and families
Am I Eligible to Participate?
You are eligible to participate if you:
- English or Spanish-speaking adolescent/young adults 18-25 years old who have been diagnosed with cancer in the last 5 years
- Participants must have internet access to complete the survey
Partners are eligible to participate if they are older than 18 and are English-speaking
What Will I Be Asked to Do?
Participants are asked to complete a one-time, anonymous online survey that takes 15-20 minutes to complete. The survey can be completed in English or Spanish.
Will I Be Compensated?
Because this is a completely anonymous survey to protect participant privacy, we are unable to provide compensation to participants.
How Do I Sign Up?
Participants enroll by going to the survey website at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RKB953R – this will directly bring them to the enrollment/informed consent page.
Study Description
The purpose of the study is to better understand how individuals view themselves after cancer treatment has ended and to learn about the impact cancer identity has on mental and physical health.
Am I Eligible to Participate?
You are eligible to participate if you:
- Are 18 years of age or older
- Were diagnosed with childhood cancer before age 18
- Have completed cancer treatment
- Live in the USA or Canada
What Will I Be Asked to Do?
You will be asked to complete a 40-minute survey.
Will I Be Compensated?
Participants will be entered into a drawing to receive 1 of 10 $100 Amazon gift cards.
How Do I Sign Up?
To sign up to participate, visit https://concordia.yul1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eRvL6U1F8Yv1BfU
Study Description
The purpose of the study is to test an app-based wellness intervention for blood cancer patients experiencing sleep disturbances. This study is completely remote.
Am I Eligible to Participate?
You are eligible to participate if you:
- Are 18 years of age or older
- Live in the USA
- Have received a blood cancer diagnosis and are currently undergoing treatment
- Experience sleep disturbances, such as difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or poor quality of sleep
- Own a smartphone
What Will I Be Asked to Do?
Your participation involves:
- One 30-minute virtual meeting with a research assistant
- Completing online surveys
- Providing three blood samples over the course of the 20-week study at a lab close to you
- Tracking sleep using a small device and daily diary
- Using a wellness app for 10 minutes per day for 8 weeks
Will I Be Compensated?
Participants will receive $100 in compensation.
How Do I Sign Up?
To learn more, visit https://cancer.uthscsa.edu/
To sign up to participate, visit https://redcap.link/hemescreening
Study Description
SHAREonline is a study for young female cancer survivors who are experiencing changes in sexual health and function. We know this is a common problem for many women after cancer treatment. The purpose of this research is to compare two brief, single-session, educational interventions delivered over Zoom to learn if they help women effectively manage these changes and restore sexual health and functioning.
Am I Eligible to Participate?
You are eligible to participate if you:
- Are a female cancer survivor
- Are between the ages of 19 and 49
- Were diagnosed with cancer at least 1 year ago
- Were diagnosed with your first cancer at age 18 or later
- Haven’t had active cancer therapy in the past 4 months
- Don’t have further therapy planned
- Are bothered by significant sexual disfunction
What Will I Be Asked to Do?
Participants are asked to:
- Complete a 30-minute study enrollment session on Zoom
- Attend the intervention session on Zoom (see more below)
- Complete 15 minute follow-up questionnaires online with a short phone call 2 and 4 months after the intervention session.
- After completing the final questionnaire, participants may also be invited to take part in an optional interview to provide feedback about their experience being in this study.
Participants will be randomized to receive either a group education session or an individual self-management session.
If you are randomized to the group session, you attend the group session on the date you selected. This Zoom session would include <10 women and would last about 3 hours with breaks. During this session you will receive information about the causes of changes in sexual health after cancer and how to manage them. One month after the session, you will have an individual coaching phone call (<30 minutes).
If you are randomized to the individual session, you would receive your session immediately during the enrollment session and would not attend the group session on the selected date. The session would last about 30 minutes, during which you would receive written and online materials and guidance on how they might be used.
Will I Be Compensated?
Participants will receive $60 in gift cards as compensation for completing all questionnaires.
How Do I Sign Up?
To sign up to participate, please email us share@dfci.harvard.edu or learn more at www.sharesurvivorship.com
Study Description
The purpose of the study is to test whether an informational website about fertility and family building after cancer is helpful for young female cancer survivors.
Am I Eligible to Participate?
You are eligible to participate if you:
- Were assigned female sex at birth
- Are between the ages of 18 and 45
- Have completed primary cancer treatment (women on hormone therapy or long-term adjuvant maintenance therapies are eligible)
- Desire to have a child (or more children) or are uncertain about family-building plans
What Will I Be Asked to Do?
You’ll be asked to complete four online 30-45 minute surveys over the course of 12 months.
Will I Be Compensated?
Participants will receive $30 in compensation for each survey, for a total possible compensation of $120.
How Do I Sign Up?
To sign up to participate, visit https://redcap.link/8aaq1ehv or email us at roadmaptoparenthood@stanford.edu
Study Description
The purpose of this study is to understand more about how the world that teen and young adult lymphoma survivors live in affects the outcomes of their cancer treatment. We call this field of research social genomics, and it takes a close look at why and how different factors like social stress, conflict, and isolation can impact cancer diagnoses and outcomes.
Am I Eligible to Participate?
You are eligible to participate if you:
- Were diagnosed with Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin lymphoma between the ages of 15 and 39
- Are currently between the ages of 18 and 39
- Completed treatment within the past three years
What Will I Be Asked to Do?
You’ll be asked to complete an online survey every six months for two years and provide a blood sample every six months for two years.
Will I Be Compensated?
Participants will receive a $20 gift card each time they complete a survey and provide a blood sample (5 times for a total of $100).
How Do I Sign Up?
To sign up to participate, visit https://redcapproduction.umms.med.umich.edu/surveys/?s=ATKW4KFCEYHL9YR3
Are you a researcher looking to spread the word about your study? We are not currently sharing any new research studies. Please check back in November.