Understanding Trauma and Stress After Cancer Diagnosis in Patients and Caregivers

The CandyStress study is looking at how cancer diagnosis affects the emotional well-being of both patients and the people who care for them. Researchers want to understand which patients and caregivers are at higher risk of developing trauma-related stress, and what kind of personalized support would be most helpful. This is a listening and planning study—not testing a new treatment—involving surveys and group discussions over the year following a cancer diagnosis.

Cancer diagnosis can be deeply traumatic, both for patients and for those caring for them. Many people have experienced other difficult events in their lives before their cancer diagnosis, which can make them more vulnerable to stress-related problems. Right now, there isn't enough information about which patients and caregivers need the most support, or what form that support should take to be most helpful.