Who We Are
Welcome to The Cancer Survivorship Research Team, the research group led by Dr. Oxana Palesh. Our lab is committed to promoting the well-being for women with breast cancer currently undergoing treatment, as well as supporting those throughout survivorship.
We have several ongoing studies aimed at bettering the lives of patients with cancer. We also have a number of exciting collaborations.
In particular, we have two new research efforts in collaboration with Dr. Shelli Kesler at UT Austin. Both studies aim to better understand and predict chemotherapy related cognitive impairments (also known as 'chemobrain') in breast cancer patients. These studies use MRI and cognitive testing to assess brain structure and function. Recruitment for these projects is live, and we invite you to reach out if you would like to learn more about participating in one of these studies.
Additionally, the NIH recently awarded us funding for a phase III multicenter randomized behavioral sleep trial, which aims to help cancer patients with their insomnia. Building upon our previous sleep research, this clinical trial will be conducted in clinics acress the United States in collaboration with the University of Rochester. We are excited to begin this project in the upcoming year.
Lastly, we are a research collaborator of the Cancer Survivorship Program at Stanford Hospital, and we have recently concluded a survey study assessing the survivorship care needs of patients at the Women's Cancer Clinic. We hope the insights of this study will lead to better and more individualized supportive care for cancer survivors.
We invite you to learn more about our work through our website, and thank you for your interest in our research.
About Us
Our Team
Research
Publications
Highlights
Dr. Palesh was recently featured for the 16th annual cancer conference for Bay Area Cancer Connections! Check out bayareacancer.org for more information
MOSAIC Study Is Complete
After five exciting years, our interventional sleep study examining the efficacy of the novel BBT-CI concluded in the summer of 2019. We are currently analyzing the information we collected over the five year duration of the study. We hope our novel therapy will improve sleep and stop insomnia that plagues the wellbeing of 60% of breast cancer survivors.
Two Studies: Pac-AI and ProBC2 have been awarded funding to study 'chemobrain'
'Chemobrain' is a common symptom that plagues breast cancer patients. For some, it remains a chronic and persistent problem even after chemotherapy is over. With collaborator Dr. Shelli Kesler, our lab has been granted NIH funding to study how it affects the brain, and how to predict who is most sucseptible.
Cancer Survivorship Database Recruitment Complete
The Breast and Gynecologic Database Pilot, a study aimed at understanding treatment side effects and supportive care needs is finished with recruitment. Now the research team will begin to analyze the data collected during the study
'Chemobrain' is Real-- And More Likely With Certain Drugs
Researchers pinpoint the type of chemotherapy that is more likely to harm the brain of breast cancer patients
Study shows brain abnormalities in breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy
A neuroimaging study from the Stanford University School of Medicine has found that when asked to perform certain tasks, women who have undergone chemotherapy for breast cancer had significantly less activation of a part of the brain known to play a critical role in planning, attention and memory than did breast cancer patients without such treatment, as well as healthy women.
When You Have Cancer And Can't Sleep
Good rest is critical for healing, but for many cancer patients, quality sleep is only a dream.
Contact Us
Available M-F from 9am-5pm
Email: cancerwellness@stanford.edu
Phone: (650)723-6250