Long term side effects of cancer treatment: Understanding the impact on women's health
30 June 2023
For women diagnosed with cancer, the primary focus is often on treatment and recovery.
But cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation, can have long-term side effects on a woman's health long after treatment is finished.
A team of researchers from Peter Mac, University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Women’s Hospital, and King Edward Memorial Hospital are looking into the prevalence and experience of long-term side effects in women who have undergone cancer treatment to better understand its impact on their lives.
“There are many possible long-term side effects that can occur after cancer treatment which can profoundly impact a woman's physical and emotional wellbeing,” Lead Investigator A/Prof Michelle Peate from the University of Melbourne says.
“We want to learn from women who experience these side-effects to find out how their daily life is impacted, how their side-effects are managed, and if more help is needed.”
The study is aiming to recruit over 2500 women to assess the long-term side-effects from their cancer treatment, which may include fatigue, lymphoedema, neuropathy and menopausal symptomshot flushes, sleep disturbances, sexual dysfunction and more.
The team is looking for survivors of all cancer types who have, or had, a uterus and ovaries to take part in the anonymous online survey.
“The only way we can improve the experiences of women who have survived cancer is to learn from them and hear first-hand about their experiences,” A/Prof Peate adds.
“The anonymous data we collect from our participants will allow us to develop strategies to improve the experiences of women cancer survivors both in Australia and right around the globe.”
How to participate in this research
Study participants should be 18 years old and living in Australia, plus:
· Completed chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, surgery, or a stem cell transplant more than six months ago for their first cancer diagnosis
· And/or, used or are using long term cancer treatment, such as endocrine therapy, PARP inhibitor, Immunotherapy or Bevacizumab.
If you meet these criteria, you can access the survey here.
If you have any questions about the study or would like to participate, please contact the research team on 1800 925 330 or email