dr. Dounya Schoormans

Bio

Currently I am working as an assistant professor at Tilburg University on biological mechanisms in cancer survivorship. My research focusses on (late) effects of cancer and cancer treatment, such as increased fatigue, cognitive problems, depression and anxiety, and co-morbid conditions, like cardiovascular disease (CVD). Decades of research in psycho-oncology have demonstrated that many cancer survivors are affected by these late effects which negatively impact their health-related quality of life. My research focusses on whether disturbances/alterations in biological mechanisms due to cancer(treatment), such as increased inflammation, enhanced cellular ageing, or disturbed HPA-axis functioning are involved in poor cancer survivorship. One of my key areas of expertise within the field of cancer survivorship is cardiovascular (late-)effects. Many cancer survivors have an increased risk of developing CVD, due to common risk factors for both cancer

Courses

• Biological Psychology (Dutch Program)
• Biological Psychology

Recent publications

1. Colorectal cancer and cardiovascular disease - Double the burden when…

   Bonhof, C., Mols, F., Widdershoven, J., & Schoormans, D. (2023). Colorectal cancer and cardiovascular disease: Double the burden when it comes to your health-related quality of life? Acta Oncologica, 62(7), 737-743.

2. The association between parental chronic physical illness and adolesc…

   Koen, L. W., Ravensbergen, S. J., Schoormans, D., Hoogendijk, W. J. G., & Grootendorst-van Mil, N. H. (2023). The association between parental chronic physical illness and adolescent functional somatic symptoms. Journal of Affective Disorders, 338, 262-269.

3. Determinants and mediating mechanisms of quality of life and disease‑…

   Mols, F., Schoormans, D., Netea-Maier, R., Husson, O., Beijer, S., van Deun, K., Zandee, W., Kars, M., Wouters van Poppel, P. C. M., Simsek, S., van Battum, P., Kisters, J. M. H., de Boer, J. P., Massolt, E., van Leeuwaarde, R. S., Oranje, W., Roerink, S., Vermeulen, M., & van de Poll-Franse, L. V. (2023). Determinants and mediating mechanisms of quality of life and disease‑specific symptoms among thyroid cancer patients: The design of the WaTCh study. Thyroid Research, 16, Article 23.

4. Self-reported causes of cancer among 6881 survivors with 6 tumour typ…

   Vlooswijk, C., Husson, O., Oerlemans, S., Ezendam, N. P. M., Schoormans, D., de Rooij, B. H., & Mols, F. (2023). Self-reported causes of cancer among 6881 survivors with 6 tumour types: Results from the PROFILES registry. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 17, 110-119.

5. Work, daily activities and leisure after cancer

   Faaij, M., Schoormans, D., & Pearce, A. (2022). Work, daily activities and leisure after cancer. European Journal of Cancer Care, 31(4), Article e13596.