FORT-AeYA

  • Brooke Russell is a clinical psychologist and postdoctoral fellow at the University of Ottawa. She received her PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Calgary in 2024. Her research interests focus on fear of cancer recurrence and other psychosocial outcomes for survivors of childhood cancer.

    She is currently working on adapting the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Therapy (FORT) intervention for adolescent and early young adult survivors of childhood cancer. Her clinical interests are in clinical, health, and rehabilitation psychology and she works part time at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario supporting children, teens, and young adults with cancer.

Drs. Russell and Lebel are currently developing the fear of recurrence therapy intervention for adolescent and early young adult survivors of childhood cancer (FORT-AeYA). The study team includes two patient partners, physicians, and other clinical psychologists from across Canda.

In collaboration with an advisory board of 7 youth with lived experience, the team adapted the original FORT program and materials for survivors of childhood cancer, ages 13-25. Currently, they are recruiting 9 participants to test FORT-AeYA to see if the program is easy to use and understand. After making final adjustments, they will run the program with two more groups of 9 survivors (ages 13-25) to help determine whether people want to participate in this kind of group and whether they find it helpful.

This project is one of the first to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a fear of recurrence intervention for survivors of childhood cancer. This will help bridge an important gap in bringing evidence-based care for fear of cancer recurrence to young survivors.

This work is generously supported by funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada, ACCESS (Advancing Childhood Cancer Experience, Science & Survivorship), and the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation.

Interested in participating in our study?

We are recruiting!

Eligible participants include people who:

  • Are currently between the ages of 13-25

  • Were diagnosed with any cancer prior to age 18

  • Have completed active treatment

  • Experience fear of cancer recurrence

  • Have access to a computer and reliable internet

  • Live in Canada

If you’re interested in learning more, please contact: FORTAeYAStudy@uottawa.ca or head to tinyurl.com/fortaeya

 FAQs

  • Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is the fear, worry, or concern that cancer may come back or progress. We recognize that AeYAs may have multiple, varying, and unique worries, such as late effects, secondary cancers, general health, and the future.

  • 1) People currently aged 13-25 who were diagnosed with any cancer prior to age 18

    2) At least 24 months post-treatment

    4) A score of 13 or greater on the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory-Short Form or Child version (FCRI-SF or FCRI-C), which will be assessed during an initial interview

    5) Access to a computer and internet connection

    6) Living in Canada

  • Interested participants will be begin the program once 9 people have registered.

    Participation will consist of weekly online group therapy sessions for 2 hours for 6 weeks, during which you will be asked to participate in activities, group discussions, and complete homework.

    Participants will also be asked to complete a 10-minute questionnaire after each meeting to evaluate the session’s usefulness, usability, desirability, value, accessibility, and credibility.

    Finally, an exit interview will be conducted with all participants to better understand their experience.

  • Participants will be compensated $20 for completing the exit interview.

    By participating in this research, participants may experience a decrease in their fear of cancer recurrence, their cancer-specific distress, their uncertainty in illness, and an increase in their quality of life and their coping.

  • Interested participants are encouraged to email the research coordinator, Celeste Holy, at choly@uottawa.ca.

Meet the Research Team

  • Sophie Lebel, PhD

    Clinical Psychologist

  • Brooke Russell, PhD

    Clinical Psychologist

  • Nicole Racine, PhD

    Clinical Psychologist

  • Tegan Lyster

    Patient Partner

  • Alia Johnston

    Patient Partner

  • Lesleight Abbott, MD

    Pediatric Oncologist

  • Fiona Schulte, PhD

    Clinical Psychologist

  • Perri Tutelman, PhD

    Clinical Psychologist

  • Sara Beattie, PhD

    Clinical Psychologist

  • Greg Guilcher, MD

    Pediatric Oncologist

  • Kathy Reynolds, MD

     Long-Term Survivor Clinic Lead, ACH

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