Understanding decision-making in cancer treatment
Take part in an interview to share your experience of making decisions about your cancer treatment, and help researchers develop guidance for healthcare professionals to better support their patients.
What's the title of the study?
Understanding people’s experiences of having cancer diagnosed and treated
What's the project about?
Having a cancer diagnosis can come with lots of decisions about your treatment and care. Medical teams are there to help people make these decisions. However, research shows that people who are isolated, living alone, or who find talking to doctors difficult can find these decisions a lot harder.
Researchers want to hear about people’s experience of cancer, and discussing their diagnosis and treatment with their medical team. They want to understand how much people get support from outside their medical team, and whether this can support people to make decisions.
They hope that this can help them and medical professionals better support people to make decisions about their treatment that are right for them.
Who's organising it?
Name of project lead: Anne Mile
Job title: Professor of Health Psychology
Organisation: Birkbeck College, University of London
Email address: ae.miles@bbk.ac.uk
Who can take part?
You can take part if you’ve had a cancer diagnosis and undergone treatment within the past 3 years.
Why do you want me to be involved?
By taking part, you can help researchers understand how people make decisions about their treatment. This will allow them to create guidance and resources for healthcare professionals to better support their patients.
What will you ask me to do?
The researchers would like to invite you to take part in a one-to-one interview to talk about your experiences. The interview will last 40 to 60 minutes. It can take part over the phone or online (via Google Meet, Zoom or Teams) or in person in a public place such as a community centre.
During the interview you’ll be asked about your experience of cancer, talking with your medical team, and making decisions about your treatment. You’ll also be asked about what other support you received and how that shaped your decisions.
You’ll be offered a payment of £25 to thank you for your time.
How do I get involved?
If you would like to participate or if you have any questions, please contact Prof Anne Miles at ae.miles@bbk.ac.uk or Dr Claudia Redeker at claudia.redeker@bbk.ac.uk.
When's the deadline?
28 June 2026
Get involved
Share your experience of making decisions about your cancer treatment, and help researchers develop guidance for healthcare professionals to better support their patients.