How many women experience long-term side-effects after cancer and cancer treatment?

• 
  Project Lead
  A/Prof Michelle Peate

  mpeate@unimelb.edu.au

  View researcher's webpage

  +61 3 8345 3792

Project Details

Australia has over 500,000 women cancer survivors. Many experience long-term side-effects, such as menopausal symptoms, from cancer treatment which can impair their day-to-day living and quality of life. Whilst these symptoms are well documented in some cancer groups (e.g. breast cancer), little is known about how many women are affected in other cancer groups.

We are conducting an online cross-sectional survey to understand how many women experience long-term side-effects after cancer treatment. We also want to understand from women who experience these side-effects, how they are impacted in their daily life, how they manage their symptoms, and what they need to better manage their symptoms experienced.

The findings from this study are expected help us develop strategies to improve the management of long-term side-effects from cancer treatment for women cancer survivors.

Researchers

1. A/Prof Michelle Peate, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Women’s Hospital, University of Melbourne
2. Prof Martha Hickey Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Women’s Hospital, University of Melbourne
3. Dr Jennifer Marino, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Women’s Hospital, University of Melbourne
4. Ms Sherine Sandhu, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Women’s Hospital, University of Melbourne
5. Dr Sarah Lensen, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Women’s Hospital, University of Melbourne
6. Ms Nipuni Susanto, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Women’s Hospital, University of Melbourne

Collaborators

1. Dr Digsu Koye, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, and MISCH (Methods and Implementation Support for Clinical and Health) Research Hub, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne
2. Dr Paul Cohen, The Western Australian Gynaecological Cancer Service, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Western Australia, Australia
3. Prof Michael Jefford, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Victoria, Australia
4. Prof Christobel Saunders, Department of Surgery, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria, Australia
5. Ms Dorcas Serwaa, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Women’s Hospital, University of Melbourne
6. Ms Kate Rolshoven, Consumer Representative, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Women’s Hospital, University of Melbourne
7. Ms Karen Dinakis, Consumer Representative, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Women’s Hospital, University of Melbourne. We acknowledge Ms Dinakis’ invaluable contribution to cancer research and thank her particularly for her support with this research study.

Funding

This study has been funded by the Centre for Research Excellence in Women’s Health in Reproductive Life. Grant details: Peate M, Marino J, Hickey M. NHMRC CRE Project Support Grant. 2021-2022. $14,000.

Research Publications

1. Lan Q, Hickey M, Peate M, Marino JL. Priorities for alleviating menopausal symptoms after cancer. Menopause 2023; 30(2):136-142.  doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000002108  https://journals.lww.com/menopausejournal/Abstract/2023/02000/Priorities_for_alleviating_menopausal_symptoms.5.aspx
2. Febrina F, Triyoga I, White M, Marino JL*, Peate M*. Efficacy of Interventions to Manage Sexual Dysfunction in Women with Cancer: A Systematic Review. Menopause 2022; 29(5):609-626. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000001953  https://journals.lww.com/menopausejournal/Abstract/2022/05000/Efficacy_of_interventions_to_manage_sexual.16.aspx
3. Donohoe F, O’Meara Y, Roberts A, Comerford L, Kelly CM, Walshe J, Peate M, Hickey M, Brennan DJ. The menopause after cancer study (MACS) - a multimodal technology assisted intervention for the management of menopause after cancer – trial protocol of a phase II study. Contemporary Clinical Trials 2021; 24:100865 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conctc.2021.100865
4. Peate M, Saunders C, Cohen P, Hickey M. Who is managing menopausal symptoms, sexual problems, mood and sleep disturbance after breast cancer and is it working? Findings from a large community-based survey of breast cancer survivors. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 2021; 187(2):427-435. https://rdcu.be/ce9DXhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-021-06117-7