A pilot study by Drs. Christina Tomei, Sophie Lebel, Christine Maheu, Monique Lefebvre, and Cheryl Harris suggests that specialized psychological services could help cancer survivors manage their fear of cancer returning. While this is a realistic fear for many cancer patients, it can cause some people significant suffering, and is associated with clinical anxiety and depression. In the study recently published in Supportive Care in Cancer, 19 patients with moderate to high fear of their cancer returning were randomly assigned to start six weeks of specialized therapy sessions immediately, or to start the therapy two to six weeks later. Those who participated experienced a significant decrease in fear of their cancer returning, and these levels were maintained or further decreased three months after the sessions ended. The research team will test these promising findings in a larger clinical trial to find out whether specialized group psychotherapy sessions reduce fear of cancer recurrence better than a typical cancer survivor support group. Patients at The Ottawa Hospital who are afraid of cancer returning can self-refer to the Psychosocial Oncology Program, offered through the hospital, or review options in the community.
Funding: This research was possible because of generous donations to The Ottawa Hospital for Research to Improve Patient Care. The researchers have also received support from the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Ottawa
The Ottawa Hospital: Inspired by research. Driven by compassion
The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals with over 1,100 beds, approximately 12,000 staff and an annual budget of over $1.2 billion. Our focus on research and learning helps us develop new and innovative ways to treat patients and improve care. As a multi-campus hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, we deliver specialized care to the Eastern Ontario region, but our techniques and research discoveries are adopted around the world. We engage the community at all levels to support our vision for better patient care. See www.ohri.ca for more information about research at The Ottawa Hospital.
University of Ottawa: —A crossroads of cultures and ideas
The University of Ottawa is home to over 50,000 students, faculty and staff, who live, work and study in both French and English. Our campus is a crossroads of cultures and ideas, where bold minds come together to inspire game-changing ideas. We are one of Canada’s top 10 research universities—our professors and researchers explore new approaches to today’s challenges. One of a handful of Canadian universities ranked among the top 200 in the world, we attract exceptional thinkers and welcome diverse perspectives from across the globe. www.uottawa.ca
Media Contact
Amelia Buchanan
Senior Communication Specialist
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Office: 613-798-5555 x 73687
Cell: 613-297-8315
ambuchanan@ohri.ca
