Your questions, answered
See our list of frequently asked questions. If you have additional questions, please contact us.
Here’s how to get started:
1. Register online, or download the app for iPhone or Android.
2. Create an account.
3. Complete the surveys!
In order to better serve all cancer survivors equitably, we need the input from individuals from all types of backgrounds with all types of different experiences. THRIVE is a research program that aims to collect information from cancer survivors to better understand the biological, psychological and social factors that contribute to optimal health and well-being. If you decide to join, your input will help clinicians and researchers find better ways to equally improve cancer-related care and the health of all cancer survivors.
Any cancer survivor who is age 18 or older and has received a primary cancer diagnosis (i.e., breast, colon/colorectal, lung, head and neck, prostate, cervical, ovarian) within the past 5 years can join this research program.
To better understand key factors, whether biological, psychological or social, that help all cancer survivors optimize their health and well-being. By understanding this, we will be in a better position to serve all members of our survivor community.
Protecting your privacy is important to us. If you choose to participate, your personal identifying information will be kept confidential, encrypted, and stored separately from other information you provide via the THRIVE app. Additionally, only those who are approved to do so to conduct, monitor, and oversee the research will have access to your health information at VCU/VCU Health.
To help us protect your privacy, we have obtained a Certificate of Confidentiality from the National Institutes of Health, which will offer the protections described here. A Certificate of Confidentiality helps the researchers keep your information private. For example, researchers can refuse to give out your information in a court case. Researchers may have to give your information if the study is audited, or if the information is required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The researchers cannot prevent you or others, for example a member of your family, from sharing information about you or your involvement in this research. If you give an insurer, employer, or other person permission to receive research information, then the researchers may not use the Certificate to withhold that information.
If you know of someone who may be interested in participating, please have them contact the study team at [email protected] to see if they qualify.
Participation is completely voluntary. If you decide to participate, you do not have to answer all the survey questions. You may skip questions that you do not wish to answer. While the THRIVE program hopes to conduct annual surveys, you can stop participating at any time without penalty.
You will receive $25 for each survey completed (up to $50 total for the baseline and yearly follow-up). If you choose to provide a saliva sample, you can receive $25. If you opt-in to wearing a watch-like device that monitors your physical activity and sleep for 7 days, you will receive $25. In total, participants may receive up to $100 for completing all aspects of the study.
We are examining cancer survivorship experiences among those that have received a diagnoses of breast, colon/colorectal, lung, head and neck, prostate, cervical, or ovarian cancer.
We can learn many things from a survey! Overall, we are interested in learning more about what factors impact health and well-being during cancer survivorship. That's why the THRIVE research program includes surveys that ask about medical history and medication use, behavioral risk factors (tobacco and alcohol use, diet and physical activity), cancer treatment history, and how symptoms impact you. These types of surveys can help Massey Cancer Center better understand the factors that contribute to health among cancer survivors like you.
We aim to survey 300 people like you. It is important to hear from this many people so that we can get a better understanding of the diverse experiences that occur during the cancer journey.
The information you share could help clinicians and researchers better understand the factors that contribute to health during cancer survivorship and could be used to inform future cancer-related health care practices.
In general, we will not provide any specific results from the study. A summary of your individual responses to the surveys is available through the study app/web platform or upon request by contacting our team (see "contact us" page). We will provide any updates on the results from any studies on the study website (thrivehealthstudy.com).
If you decide to join the research program, we will first ask you some basic information like your name, date of birth, phone number, and email address. The survey will ask information about your home, family, and work. It will also ask about your health, including medical history and medication use, behavioral risk factors (tobacco and alcohol use, diet and physical activity), cancer treatment history, and symptom burden. You will be asked to wear a watch-like device for 7 days that monitors your sleep and physical activity. You may also choose to provide a saliva sample.
Yes, you may change your mind at any time and take back your consent to participate in this study or keep your information in the registry. If you decide to stop participating in the study or withdraw your information from the registry, please write to the study Principal Investigator, Dr. Bernard Fuemmeler, at VCU at 830 E. Main Street, Richmond VA, 23219. Your information that has already been shared with other researchers at the time of your withdrawal may continue to be used.
This study is being funded by Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center.
We will never sell or share your data to any third party. VCU and VCU Health are required by law to protect your identifiable health information. By consenting to this research program, you authorize VCU/VCU Health to use and/or share your health information for this research only with those who are approved to do so to conduct, monitor, and oversee the research. You may also change your mind and revoke (take back) the right to use your protected health information at any time. If you decide to revoke this authorization, you must write to the study team. Please address this request to: THRIVE Health Study, Attn: Dr. Bernard Fuemmeler, Box 980212, Richmond VA, 23298-0430.
If you have any additional questions, the project coordinator can be reached by email ([email protected]) or phone (804-628-4649), Monday through Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM.
This research will not diagnose or treat medical problems. You will not get direct medical benefit from taking part in the THRIVE Cohort.
That said, you may indirectly benefit. For example, we will provide ways for you to get access to summaries of the data you share with us from your completed surveys. This information may be interesting to you. You may learn about your health. You will be able to share your THRIVE Cohort information with your healthcare provider if you choose. You will have the option to learn about additional study opportunities. Finally, you will be helping researchers gain information that may help future generations.
There are few risks to participating in the research program. You may skip any question that you do not wish to answer. You may also take back your consent to participate in this research program at any time.
There is a chance that someone might be able to access the information and identify who you are even without personal information being part of the data. This is called a data breach. We think that chance of this happening is very small, but it cannot be ruled out completely. We have put into place the best practices to ensure your data is secure.
No, you do not need to have health insurance to be able to join the research program.
You do not need to be currently receiving healthcare from VCU Health System to be a part of this research study.
Interested in becoming a participant?