Quality of life with or after cancer
Within Tilburg University, a group of enthusiastic and committed researchers who investigate the psychosocial consequences of cancer. They work together to gain insight in the psychological and biological processes behind, for instance, fatigue, anxiety, and pain. Everyone is trying to solve their part of the puzzle, based on a shared goal: improving people’s lives.
"We can’t take away the symptoms, but we can help people feel better”
Cancer has major consequences. Many people have to learn to live with anxiety, fatigue and chronic pain. What causes these symptoms? Who suffers more and why? And what interventions and therapies are the best ways to help people learn to live with these symptoms? Read more about the work of the researchers trying to find answers to these questions.
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Better handle on post-cancer fatigue through network approach
Serious fatigue is a frequent effect of cancer, afflicting a quarter of patients. Professor of Psycho-Oncology Marije van der Lee advocates the network approach which helps people to get a better grip on fatigue. "This is crucial, because cancer has such profound effects to begin with.”
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Psychological symptoms often point to a host of disrupted biological processes”
Our moods and emotions are to a large extent driven by biological processes in our bodies. Cancer wreaks havoc on these processes, thus increasing the risk of psychosocial symptoms as anxiety and depression taking hold. Assistant professor Dounya Schoormans studies which biological mechanisms take the lead in this interaction between body and mind.
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Learning to live with pain after cancer
Are you hungry for knowledge? Fancy a snack? Then watch this knowledge clip in which PhD candidate Daniëlle van de Graaf talks about the online help tool she developed to help people to continue doing what they love despite pain symptoms after cancer.
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Cancer patient wants personalized information
A cancer diagnosis, unfortunately, comes with numbers and statistics about survival, recurrence of the disease and risk of side effects of drugs. Thanks to recent developments in statistics, data science and artificial intelligence, it is possible to calculate specific and personalized probabilities and risks for individual patients. Do people really want this? And how do you communicate this kind of complex and impactful information well?
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PROFIEL study contributes to quality of life of people with cancer
PROFIEL study is an international partnership for the collection and sharing of data on the quality of life of (former) cancer patients, in cooperation with Integraal Kankercentrum Nederland (IKNL).
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Living with neuropathy after cancer: acceptance, optimism and values-based living
After chemotherapy, about 70% of patients suffer from pain, numbness or a tingling sensation in their hands, fingers, feet and toes. 'Deal with it' is often the message. "It is important that some sort of solution is found for these people," say researchers Daniëlle van de Graaf and Cynthia Bonhof. In their research, they look at the power of acceptance and optimism.
More information
The (psycho) oncological research at Tilburg University, is conducted within the medical and clinical psychology research group within the Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (research institute Corps) and the Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences. We work closely together with physicians and therapists in various hospitals and (mental) health institutions.
Collaboration partners
- Profielstudie.nl / @Profielstudie
- Integraal kankercentrum Nederland (IKNL)/ @IKNL
- Nederlandse Federatie van Kankerpatiëntenorganisaties (NFK)
- Helen Dowling Instituut / @HDI_nl
- ETZ hospital Tilburg
- Tilburg University Psycho-oncological research on twitter: @TilburgU_Corps and @tilburgresearch