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
This study uses digital tools to help young adult cancer survivors develop healthier eating and activity habits. The 3-month program is delivered using a smartphone app, digital health tools, and text messages. It also provides an opportunity to participate in important research to help us understand more about ways to help YACS lead healthier lifestyles.
Am I Eligible to Participate?
You are eligible to participate if you:
- Are between the ages of 18 and 39
- Were diagnosed with cancer (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) at age 15 or older
- Have completed cancer treatment
- Are not exceeding physical activity guidelines
- Own a smartphone with data and text messaging plan
What Will I Be Asked to Do?
Participants will be asked to use an app and a simplified approach to track your foods to help you make positive changes in your eating, and an activity tracker to help increase your physical activity. All participants will receive a kick-off videochat session with a health coach, and a behavior change program delivered through the study smartphone app, which will include lessons, resources, personalized feedback, tools to help them keep track of their diet and physical activity, and text messages to encourage healthy habits. You will be asked to complete online questionnaires and other remote measurements such as weighing on their own scale at home, at the start of the study, after 6 weeks, and after 3 months.
Will I Be Compensated?
Participants will receive a Fitbit activity tracker and a $25 Visa gift card for completing the 3-month assessments.
How Do I Sign Up?
To sign up to participate, visit www.uncweightresearch.org/yacsheal
Study Description
STEP-YA teaches survivors how to make changes to sleep habits and behaviors in order to improve sleep.
Am I Eligible to Participate?
You are eligible for this study if:
- You are a cancer survivor between the ages of 20 and 39
- You have not received cancer therapy in the past four months
- You do not have any future cancer therapy planned
- You are experiencing sleep problems
What Will I Be Asked to Do?
Participants will first complete health questionnaires and then be randomized to the STEP-YA session either alone or with coaching phone calls one and two weeks later. STEP-YA is delivered by an instructor over videoconference and teaches survivors how to make changes to their sleep habits and health behaviors to improve their sleep. Participants will also complete questionnaires at the time of their session and again 1 and 2 months later.
Will I Be Compensated?
Participants will receive up to $60 in gift cards for completing all follow-ups and surveys. Each participant will also receive a personalized Sleep Action Plan.
How Do I Sign Up?
Contact step@dfci.harvard.edu or call (617) 582-8260
Study Description
Many individuals with cancer who are receiving or who have received chemotherapy and/or radiation develop fatigue that prevents them from doing daily activities that are important to them. This research seeks to discover strategies to manage and lessen this feeling of fatigue.
Am I Eligible to Participate?
You are eligible for this study if:
- You are 18 or older
- You are receiving or have received chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy
- You have been diagnosed with cancer within the last 5 years
- You are experiencing fatigue
- You do not have Stage 4 (cancer that has spread)
What Will I Be Asked to Do?
You will be asked to:
- Complete an online screen followed by three online surveys
- Participate in 10 online weekly visits using Zoom (each visit 20-30 minutes)
- Complete an individualized exercise program 3 times a week in the comfort of your home
- Complete 4 interactive online educational modules
Will I Be Compensated?
Participants will receive an individualized exercise program. At the end of the study, you will be compensated for your time with up to $80 in gift cards of your choice.
How Do I Sign Up?
To sign up to participate, visit https://redcap.link/UCUDCRF
If you have any questions, please contact Anne Fleischer at CaRehabResearch@gmail.com
Study Description
The purpose of the study is to interview breast cancer patients about their cancer journey and how they prefer to talk about treatment options. The goal is to learn what matters most to patients as they talk about their treatment options, how well treatments work, and possible side effects.
Am I Eligible to Participate?
You are eligible to participate if you:
- Are a female
- Are over the age of 18
- Were diagnosed with breast cancer in the past year
- Live in the United States
What Will I Be Asked to Do?
You’ll be asked to participate in a single one-hour interview, which will take place on Zoom or by phone.
Will I Be Compensated?
Participants will receive a $50 Amazon gift card as compensation.
How Do I Sign Up?
To sign up to participate, please email Lila Rabinovich at lilarabi@usc.edu to schedule an interview.
Study Description
The purpose of the study is to learn about the benefits and challenges you encountered while providing for the present and future needs of your companion animal(s). We hope to understand how best to support you in knowing how to address financial, social, and emotional challenges encountered in caring for your companion animal, concerns you have, as well as the benefits of having a furry companion during your treatment and recovery.
Am I Eligible to Participate?
You are eligible to participate if you:
- Are an adult
- Have been diagnosed with cancer
- Have been the primary guardian of at least one dog or cat for a minimum of 6 months
What Will I Be Asked to Do?
You’ll be asked to complete a short (10-15 minute) anonymous survey about the benefits and challenges you have encountered while providing for the present and future care needs of your companion animal(s).
Will I Be Compensated?
Participants will be entered in a raffle for a $100 gift card to Chewy pet supply.
How Do I Sign Up?
To sign up to participate, visit https://col.st/DaVdt
Study Description
This is a clinical trial sponsored by the American Cancer Society, where we will be testing the helpfulness of two programs designed to teach breast and gynecological cancer survivors and their partners to communicate and cope with physical, emotional, and relationship challenges after cancer.
Am I Eligible to Participate?
This study is recruiting both survivors and their partners. Survivors are eligible for this study if:
- You had a breast or gynecologic cancer diagnosis between the ages of 18-39
- You were diagnosed between 6 months and 5 years ago
- You have a partner who is age 18 or older
- Both partners agree to participate
- You reside in the United States
What Will I Be Asked to Do?
The program consists of couples participating in 4-5 weekly sessions with a trained counselor. These sessions will last about 90 minutes. The programs are conducted entirely via videoconference (Zoom), so participants would not have to travel anywhere to participate.
Will I Be Compensated?
Each participant will receive a $10 eGift card for completing each online survey (3 surveys total). Couples may be asked to participate in a qualitative interview and each participant would receive a $20 eGift after the interview.
How Do I Sign Up?
If you are interested in participating, fill out the contact form on the study website by clicking here: https://health.oregonstate.edu/research/programs/tact/oc
Study Description
Sexual and reproductive health are important topics for many colorectal cancer patients and survivors. However these are often overlooked by providers and few resources are available to help young couples navigate these challenges. We need your help to better understand how young adult colorectal cancer survivors and their partners cope with the impact of the illness on their sexuality and fertility. By sharing your story, your voice can shape future cancer care!
Am I Eligible to Participate?
You are eligible to participate if you:
- Have received a diagnosis of colorectal cancer (stages I-IV) in the past 5 years
- Were between 18 and 39 years of age at time of diagnosis
- Are involved in a romantic relationship with a partner
- Are currently older than 18 years
Partners are eligible to participate if they are older than 18 and are English-speaking
What Will I Be Asked to Do?
You’ll be asked to complete an online survey which will take approximately 30 minutes (both partners). Some couples will also be invited to take part in an hour-long online interview with the research team.
Will I Be Compensated?
A $30 Amazon gift-card is offered when both partners have consented to the study and have completed the survey, for a total of $60 per couple. A resource list for sexuality, fertility, and emotional well-being will be provided to all respondents. Additional compensation is offered to couples completing the online interview ($120 per couple).
How Do I Sign Up?
To sign up to participate, visit https://tinyurl.com/AYASHARE
Study Description
The purpose of the study is to culturally adapt an evidence-based psychotherapeutic intervention for Mandarin-speaking and Vietnamese speaking Americans with metastatic cancer.
Am I Eligible to Participate?
You are eligible to participate if you:
- Are 18 years of age or older
- Are living with solid tumor metastatic cancer (cancer that spread from where it first started to a distant part of the body, often Stage 4)
- Are of Chinese or Vietnamese heritage
- Prefer speaking in Mandarin or Vietnamese
What Will I Be Asked to Do?
You’ll be asked to do a 10-15 minute demographic phone call, a 1 hour Zoom/phone interview, and a 30-45 minute follow-up Zoom/phone interview.
Will I Be Compensated?
Participants will receive $80 in e-gift cards.
How Do I Sign Up?
To sign up to participate, email the study team at dawn@hs.uci.edu or call at (213) 537-9209
Study Description
We are looking for young people with cancer and a friend to evaluate a series of 6 short videos designed to educate friends on how to better support AYAs during and after treatment.
Am I Eligible to Participate?
You are eligible to participate in this study if:
- You are between the ages of 18 and 39
- You were diagnosed with cancer for the first time within the past year
Your friend is eligible for the study if:
- They are between the ages of 18 and 39
- They have no history of cancer
What Will I Be Asked to Do?
Participants will watch a series of 6 short videos and complete two surveys. Some participants will be invited to be part of a focus group.
Will I Be Compensated?
Participants will receive a $15 Amazon gift card.
How Do I Sign Up?
Study Description
This study explores the links between experiences of gender-based violence and breast cancer among Canadian women. We aim to advance holistic understandings of patient needs and help shape comprehensive cancer care.
Am I Eligible to Participate?
You are eligible to participate if you:
- Identify as a woman
- Are 18 years of age or older
- Have breast cancer (or have had breast cancer in the past)
- Received breast cancer care in Canada
- Have access to a safe, internet-enabled device
What Will I Be Asked to Do?
You’ll be asked to complete a brief online survey, with an optional interview.
Will I Be Compensated?
Participants will not receive compensation for participating in this study.
How Do I Sign Up?
Study Description
The purpose of the study is to test an app-based wellness intervention for chronic sleep disturbances among blood cancer patients.
Am I Eligible to Participate?
You are eligible to participate if you:
- Are currently diagnosed with a blood cancer and currently undergoing treatment
- Are not currently participating in a therapeutic pharmacologic clinical trial
- Have not received or are not planning to receive an allogenic stem cell transplantation
- Have moderate sleep disturbances or problems with sleep
- Own a smartphone and are willing to download a mobile app
- Are 18 years of age or older
What Will I Be Asked to Do?
You’ll be asked to use a smartphone-based wellness app for 10 minutes per day for a total of 8 weeks. Additionally, study participants will complete in-person blood draws and online surveys at 3 different time points over the course of the 20-week study (baseline, after 8 weeks, and after 20 weeks). Finally, participants will wear an Oura Ring daily and complete a brief daily sleep diary for 8 weeks and then again for 1 more week during week 20.
Will I Be Compensated?
Participants will receive $75 in compensation.
How Do I Sign Up?
To sign up to participate, visit https://redcap.link/hemescreening
Are you a researcher looking to spread the word about your study?
If you have a research opportunity open to young adults facing cancer, feel free to share it with us here.