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
The purpose of this research study is to find out more about life after cancer, specifically to understand cancer’s impact on anxiety in young cancer survivors.
Am I Eligible to Participate?
You are eligible to participate if you:
- Are between the ages of 18 and 39
- Have a history of cancer
- Have completed cancer treatment at least six months ago
- Are experiencing anxiety symptoms
What Will I Be Asked to Do?
Participants will be asked to participate in two interviews (One interview will be 100-150 minutes, and the second interview will be 90 minutes).
Will I Be Compensated?
Participants will receive a $150 gift card for compensation following participation.
How Do I Sign Up?
To see if you are eligible, complete the online screener here: EASE Online Screener Link
For more information or questions, please contact hunterpsychooncologylab@gmail.com or ease.research.study@gmail.com
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 demonstrate the feasibility of an eight-week, virtually-delivered, tailored music-based relaxation intervention to decrease anxiety in AYA cancer survivors with clinically-relevant anxiety.
Am I Eligible to Participate?
You are eligible to participate if you:
- Are between the ages of 15 and 39
- Are at least one month post cancer treatment
- Report experiencing clinically relevant anxiety in the past 7 days
What Will I Be Asked to Do?
Your participation involves:
- Being randomly put into an 8-week tailored music-based relaxation group or a control group that receives cancer survivorship resources (Control group participants will be offered the opportunity to complete the music-based relaxation group at the end of the study)
- Completing 4 surveys
- Potentially completing an interview
Will I Be Compensated?
Participants will receive $100 in compensation and the pair of headphones used in the study.
How Do I Sign Up?
To sign up to participate, visit https://umhealthresearch.org/studies/HUM00231408
Study Description
The purpose of this study is to evaluate a weight management program designed specifically for AYA cancer survivors who are interested in improving their diet quality and increasing their physical activity.
Am I Eligible to Participate?
You are eligible to participate if you:
- Are currently between the ages of 18 and 39
- Were diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 15 and 39
- Are within 10 years of your diagnosis
- Have completed active cancer directed therapy
- Have a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 50 kg/m2
What Will I Be Asked to Do?
You’ll be asked to participate in a comprehensive, virtual weight loss program. Study participants will be given a Fitbit activity tracker, a smart scale to track weight, a health education program, and peer support.
Will I Be Compensated?
Participants will receive up to $180 in compensation.
How Do I Sign Up?
To sign up to participate, visit https://join-ayawell.org/
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 the study is to better understand how family support and relationships (for example, with parents or caregivers) are linked to mental and physical well-being among AYA cancer survivors ages 15–24 who completed treatment within the past year.
Am I Eligible to Participate?
You are eligible to participate if you:
- Are currently 15-24 years old
- Completed cancer treatment within the past year
- Live with your parent(s)/caregiver(s) at least 50% of the time
Caregivers may be eligible to participate if you:
- Are a self-designated caregiver of an AYA cancer survivor
- Live with the AYA cancer survivor at least 50% of the time
What Will I Be Asked to Do?
You’ll be asked to complete three surveys and one optional Zoom interview.
Will I Be Compensated?
Participants will receive up to $100 in compensation.
How Do I Sign Up?
To learn more and participate, please email Heeyeon Son, PhD, MSN at hson4@utk.edu or call 856-974-0838.
Study Description
The purpose of the study is to better understand the sexual education experiences and informational needs of young adult cancer survivors, as well as to gather feedback on a sexual education pamphlet designed to address these needs.
Am I Eligible to Participate?
You are eligible to participate if you:
- Were diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 12 and 17
- Are currently between the ages of 18 and 29
- Have completed treatment at least one year ago
What Will I Be Asked to Do?
Participants are asked to complete a brief demographic form and sexual education history form and then take part in a semi-structured interview about their experiences with sexual education, their informational needs, and their preferences for how sexual health information should be delivered. In a later phase, some participants may also be asked to review a draft sexual education pamphlet and provide feedback on its content, quality, and delivery.
Will I Be Compensated?
Participants will receive a $15 gift card as compensation.
How Do I Sign Up?
To learn more and sign up to participate, please email Jessica O’Brien at jobrien10@student.touro.edu
Are you a researcher looking to spread the word about your study? Please fill out the form below!
If you’re interested in further opportunities for outreach with our community, please review our study recruitment prospectus here.