Support program helping adults with breast, colon, or head and neck cancer

Trial details

Who runs it

Centre for Research and Technology Hellas

Trial code

NCT07108517

Record updated

7 August 2025

Original description

Cancer can be a very traumatic experience for the people affected and the majority of the psychological literature focuses on this. Less proliferated and researched is the increasingly recognized fact that as a result of struggling with such traumatic adversities, some people experience what is known as post-traumatic growth (PTG). PTG not only allows them to overcome their trauma (e.g., impact of cancer) and return to pre-diagnosis functioning (e.g., health, wellbeing, employment) but also results in them going over and above their previous state (e.g., increased resilience). This renders PTG an important phenomenon that could be enhanced as part of the support people with cancer receive. IC-Growth has two interconnected paths, namely a research one and another of health policy and best practice recommendations. On the first path, is a sequence of three studies, starting with a systematic review, followed by a cross-sectional study and concludes with a randomized control trial (RCT). The systematic review and close collaboration with experts (e.g., patient associations) will lead to the development of a novel manual to facilitate PTG in groups of people with cancer. The cross-sectional study will explore relationships between variables (e.g., PTG, quality of life, biological variables, illness perceptions, distress, anxiety, depression) in people with cancer (n = 150-180). Lastly, the RCT will evaluate the intervention's effects among three different groups (breast, colorectal, and head and neck cancers, n = 50-60 per group). On the other path, is the development of health policy and best practice recommendations regarding the psychosocial support of people with cancer in Greece. The project's results will be disseminated to stakeholders who provide support to people with cancer (e.g., oncologists, surgeons, psychologists, psychiatrists), through professional associations, a conference on "Psychosocial Support in Oncology", and publications in scientific journals. Overall, IC-Growth is a multidisciplinary project (i.e., psychology, medical, patient organizations, health policy) and joins the clinical, research and policy fields together to workable actions leading to empowering the wider community of people with cancer and improving their care.Read full original descriptionShow less

A Manualized Post-Traumatic Growth Intervention for People With Cancer in Greece - IC-Growth. The Overarching Aim of IC-Growth is to Promote Psychosocial Care and Support for People With Cancer Using Acceptance and Committment Therapy.

Cancer can be a very traumatic experience for the people affected and the majority of the psychological literature focuses on this. Less proliferated and researched is the increasingly recognized fact that as a result of struggling with such traumatic adversities, some people experience what is known as post-traumatic growth (PTG). PTG not only allows them to overcome their trauma (e.g., impact of cancer) and return to pre-diagnosis functioning (e.g., health, wellbeing, employment) but also results in them going over and above their previous state (e.g., increased resilience). This renders PTG an important phenomenon that could be enhanced as part of the support people with cancer receive. IC-Growth has two interconnected paths, namely a research one and another of health policy and best practice recommendations. On the first path, is a sequence of three studies, starting with a systematic review, followed by a cross-sectional study and concludes with a randomized control trial (RCT). The systematic review and close collaboration with experts (e.g., patient associations) will lead to the development of a novel manual to facilitate PTG in groups of people with cancer. The cross-sectional study will explore relationships between variables (e.g., PTG, quality of life, biological variables, illness perceptions, distress, anxiety, depression) in people with cancer (n = 150-180). Lastly, the RCT will evaluate the intervention's effects among three different groups (breast, colorectal, and head and neck cancers, n = 50-60 per group). On the other path, is the development of health policy and best practice recommendations regarding the psychosocial support of people with cancer in Greece. The project's results will be disseminated to stakeholders who provide support to people with cancer (e.g., oncologists, surgeons, psychologists, psychiatrists), through professional associations, a conference on "Psychosocial Support in Oncology", and publications in scientific journals. Overall, IC-Growth is a multidisciplinary project (i.e., psychology, medical, patient organizations, health policy) and joins the clinical, research and policy fields together to workable actions leading to empowering the wider community of people with cancer and improving their care.

Inclusion: Adults (≥ 18 years); Having a diagnosis of a. Breast Cancer, b. Colorectal Cancer, or c. Head and Neck Cancer; Having concluded the planned chemotherapy courses and related hospital admissions; Having no more than 5 years since the initial diagnosis.

Exclusion: Diagnosed with another type of cancer within 5 years prior to recruitment; Being in active psychological or psychiatric treatment; Having a severe cognitive impairment; Having an unmanaged mental health difficulty; Being unable to give informed consent; Being unable to speak or read Greek; Having one or more relapses; Having less than one-year life expectancy.

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT07108517