Promoting Wellness Across the Lifespan for Cancer Survivors (2024-2025)
This project team examined how to improve well-being for cancer survivors across different life stages, focusing on older adults with cancer and female adolescent and young adult (AYA) survivors. In the first subteam, team members developed a tailored geriatric assessment and behavioral intervention protocol to address aging-specific concerns and multimorbidity in older patients. In the second, they refined and piloted an educational intervention aimed at supporting sexual and reproductive health for female AYA survivors, building on materials developed by a previous team.
The aging subteam co-authored three manuscripts using a dataset on older adults with breast cancer, with one paper currently under review and two in preparation for submission. Their work included developing assessment tools, refining intervention materials based on patient and provider feedback, and identifying strategies to enhance symptom management and specialty care engagement for older cancer patients.
The AYA subteam designed and produced an educational pamphlet to address the reproductive and sexual health needs of female young adult survivors. They piloted the intervention at the Duke Cancer Institute, collecting feedback through surveys and interviews to further improve the content. Throughout the year, the full team expanded its expertise in clinical research methods, collaborated closely with oncology specialists, and shared findings at institutional, regional and national conferences, contributing to ongoing efforts to enhance survivorship care.
Timing
Fall 2024 ¬– Spring 2025
Team Outputs
Manuscript: "Comorbid breast cancer and type 2 diabetes mellitus: Impacts on functional status and memory for older adults"
Manuscript: "Assessing depression via multiple methods for older adults with breast cancer: Examining impacts on concurrent and subsequent quality of life"
Manuscript: "Examining the concurrent and longitudinal relationships between pain, activities of daily living, and perceptions of overall health in older adults with breast cancer: Results from a brief geriatric screening"
Psychiatry Research Day (poster presentation)
Duke Cancer Institute Scientific Retreat (Poster presentation, December 2024)
MaryAnn Black Distinguished Health Equity Symposium (poster presentation)
American Psychosocial Oncology Society Conference (Poster presentation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, March 2025)
Educational pamphlet for female young adult cancer survivors
Promoting Wellness Across the Lifespan for Cancer Survivors (Poster presentation at Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Showcase, April 16, 2025)
See earlier related team, Promoting Female Sexual Well-Being Through Research and Education (2023-2024).
Image: Duke Cancer Institute exterior