Ovarian Cancer Canada is investing $400,000 to improve quality of life for people facing advanced ovarian cancer. A new study led by Dr. Stephanie Lheureux and Dr. Gary Rodin is testing a proactive, patient-focused form of talk therapy called CALM (Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully). This type of therapy helps people talk about their feelings, worries, and hopes while they are going through cancer.
This is the first time Ovarian Cancer Canada is funding a project that focuses on mental health and how people feel – not just on medicine.
Lead Scientists Dr. Stephanie Lheureux and Dr. Gary Rodin, University Health Network
Why This Study Matters
Although high-quality medical treatments are routinely available for people diagnosed with ovarian cancer, they don’t always get the emotional help they need. Many don’t have someone to talk to about their fears, stress, or sadness. This study is trying to change that.
The therapy will be offered to people soon after they are diagnosed or if their cancer comes back. The goal is to see if talking to someone early on can help people feel less scared and more in control of their lives.
What Is CALM Therapy?
CALM is a short and simple kind of therapy for people with cancer and their caregivers. It helps them talk through four main things:
- How to manage symptoms and talk to doctors
- Changes in themselves and their relationships
- What matters most in their lives
- Hopes and worries for the future, including thoughts about dying
CALM helps people stay connected to life while also understanding what’s happening with their health.
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Real-Life Testing: Pragmatic Clinical Trials
This study is happening in hospitals and clinics in Canada to see how CALM works in the real world – not just in ideal situations.
Here’s what makes it special:
- It’s open to many kinds of patients
- It can happen in person or online
- Patients helped plan the study
- The study will measure how people feel after six months
Patients will continue to receive standard medical care throughout the trial. Some people will also get CALM therapy, while others will have access to emotional care if needed.
Laura Foran, Manager, CALM National Program and Megan George, Masters of Science Candidate, University of Toronto
Supporting the Whole Person
This project is co-led by a multidisciplinary team – a medical oncologist and a psychiatrist – highlighting the importance of integrating mental health and cancer care. Our $400,000 investment in this trial reflects a broader mission: to change the landscape of ovarian cancer through research that addresses the full spectrum of patient needs.
With donor support, Ovarian Cancer Canada is funding more than just scientific discovery; we’re helping shape healthcare policies and clinical guidelines to give ovarian cancer patients more compassionate, and effective care.
You Can Help
Your gift helps fund forward-thinking research like this – research that places people at the centre of care. As this trial gets underway, it has the power to drive lasting change in how mental health care works together with cancer care across Canada.
We’re ensuring that every person diagnosed with this disease has access to the resources they need to live their lives freely, fully, and uninhibited by ovarian cancer.
Summary:
- Ovarian Cancer Canada invests in research project on mental health therapy for ovarian cancer patients.
- High-quality medical treatments are routinely available for people diagnosed with ovarian cancer, but they don’t always get the emotional help they need to address the fear, stress and sadness caused by ovarian cancer.
- CALM therapy helps ovarian cancer patients and their caregivers manage traumatic stress symptoms by talking about
- how to manage symptoms,
- talk to doctors,
- changes they see in their life and relationship,
- what matters most to them, and
- Their hopes and worries for the future, including dying.