WellSpan-THRIVE Cancer QOL Study
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- This is an observational study: the protocol does not assign a study treatment.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Cancer (Active Cancer, Meaning Not Being Cancer Free), of Any Stage and Involving Any Treatment/Care Regimen; i.e. Curative, Life-extending, or Palliative, Cancer (Solid Tumors), Cancer (With or Without Metastasis), Cancer - Ovarian. Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- United States
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Official title
WellSpan Study of Tracking Health and Resilience to Improve the Vitality of Individuals Experiencing Cancer [WellSpan-THRIVE]
Overview
Cancer affects millions of people worldwide and can significantly impact not only survival, but also day-to-day quality of life. Treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation can cause side effects like fatigue, pain, and neuropathy, which may affect physical function, emotional well-being, and social relationships. While many studies have examined factors that influence quality of life; such as age, type and stage of cancer, and treatment-related symptoms; there is still a need for tools that more fully reflect patients' lived experiences. This study aims to develop and implement a patient-centered quality of life (QOL) survey designed specifically for individuals with cancer. By directly involving patients in sharing what matters most to them, the survey seeks to provide a more complete and accurate understanding of how cancer and its treatment affect daily life. The results will help patients, families, and healthcare providers better identify needs, guide supportive care, and improve overall well-being throughout the cancer journey.
Detailed description
Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. With more than 10 million deaths in 2020, it is imposing a significant burden on individuals, families, and healthcare systems. Cancer treatment often involves a combination of therapies, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, which can lead to a range of physical and psychological side effects. Side effects such as fatigue, pain, and neuropathy can greatly affect a cancer patient's quality of life, impacting their ability to function, their emotional health, and their social relationships. Research into cancer-related quality of life (QOL) has become increasingly important, as it helps us understand how cancer impacts every part of a patient's life, not just survival. Involving patients in their own care is a powerful way to boost engagement and gain deeper insight into the factors that influence quality of life during the cancer journey.
Many studies have looked at what affects quality of life (QOL) in cancer patients. Factors such as age, stage of disease, type of cancer, education, income, and treatment side effects all play a role. For example, older age, advanced cancer, and certain types like lung or pancreatic cancer can lower QOL, while treatment side effects such as fatigue, pain, and neuropathy can make it harder for patients to do daily activities and enjoy life. Research has made important progress in understanding how physical, emotional, and social issues impact well-being, but challenges remain in fully capturing all the factors that influence QOL for people living with cancer.
The goal is to bridge this gap by developing and implementing a patient-centered quality of life (QOL) survey tailored specifically for cancer patients and aims to capture a more accurate and comprehensive picture of the factors that affect their quality of life.
Primary outcome measures
- Quality of Life Differences based on Race or Ethnicity or Gender [Time frame: Baseline, 6-12-18-24 months]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Age 18 years and above
- Primary cancer diagnosis (newly diagnosed within the past 6 months)
- Able to sign informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
- Patients with age<18 years,
- Patients with primary non-melanoma skin, neurological malignancies (Brain or brain metastases), and primary hematological malignancies.
- Patients with severe cognitive impairment, unable to sign informed consent or unable to complete quality of life questionnaire.
- Patients with life expectancy of <90 days, in the opinion of treating investigator.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
Study locations
United States · 5 centers
- WellSpan Medical Oncology & Hematology — Chambersburg
- WellSpan Ephrata Cancer Center — Ephrata
- WellSpan Adams Cancer Center — Gettysburg
- WellSpan Sechler Family Cancer Center — Lebanon
- WellSpan York Cancer Center — York
Publications
- Cella DF, Tulsky DS, Gray G, Sarafian B, Linn E, Bonomi A, Silberman M, Yellen SB, Winicour P, Brannon J, et al. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy scale: development and validation of the general measure. J Clin Oncol. 1993 Mar;11(3):570-9. doi: 10.1200/JCO.1993.11.3.570. PMID 8445433
- Dodd MJ, Miaskowski C, Paul SM. Symptom clusters and their effect on the functional status of patients with cancer. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2001 Apr;28(3):465-70. PMID 11338755
- Yennurajalingam S, Rodrigues LF, Shamieh O, Tricou C, Filbet M, Naing K, Ramaswamy A, Perez-Cruz PE, Bautista MJS, Bunge S, Muckaden MA, Sewram V, Fakrooden S, Noguera-Tejedor A, Rao SS, Liu D, Park M, Williams JL, Lu Z, Cantu H, Hui D, Reddy SK, Bruera E. Perception of Curability Among Advanced Cancer Patients: An International Collaborative Study. Oncologist. 2018 Apr;23(4):501-506. doi: 10.1634 PMID 29158371
- Grabner M, Molife C, Wang L, Winfree KB, Cui ZL, Cuyun Carter G, Hess LM. Data Integration to Improve Real-world Health Outcomes Research for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in the United States: Descriptive and Qualitative Exploration. JMIR Cancer. 2021 Apr 12;7(2):e23161. doi: 10.2196/23161. PMID 33843600
- Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, Laversanne M, Soerjomataram I, Jemal A, Bray F. Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2021 May;71(3):209-249. doi: 10.3322/caac.21660. Epub 2021 Feb 4. PMID 33538338
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07433660 · 2226965-1