Project description

Emerging evidence indicates that circadian rhythms may be disrupted following cancer and its treatment, and that circadian rhythm disruption may be an underlying pathophysiological mechanism of cancer- and cancer treatment-related symptoms (CTRS) such as fatigue, sleep disturbance, depressed mood and cognitive impairment.  Given the detrimental effect of CTRS on quality of life, there is a need for a comprehensive examination of circadian disruption related to cancer and its treatment, and associations with CTRS. The strongest entrainer of circadian rhythms is light exposure due to direct effects on the brain via a non-image forming photoreceptor system. Evidence suggests that cancer patients experiencing low light exposure may have more CTRS potentially due to circadian rhythm disruption. One goal of this study is to prospectively examine circadian rhythms and CTRS in 63 breast cancer (BC) patients from post-surgery to 12 months post-chemotherapy. A matched healthy control group (n=63) will serve as a comparison. Another goal is to evaluate light exposure as a potential protective factor against circadian rhythm disruption. 

Short bio

Dr. Lisa Wu received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Columbia University. She is a licensed clinical psychologist and researcher. Her research has focused on quality of life and survivorship issues in cancer patients, and the development of interventions to treat such changes. She has examined cancer-related cognitive impairment, light therapy to treat cancer and treatment-related symptoms, and the underlying biological and chronobiological mechanisms of the cancer symptom cluster.