Posts

The Carpenter Lab will be participating in the 7th Conference of the Scientific Network focusing on Brightening Futures: Improving Sexual Health for Adolescent and Young Adult Survivors, November 13-15. Presentations will include undergraduate research assistant, Dania Dallal (OSU ’20), presenting a poster for Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Survivors of Cancer Report Poorer Sexual Outcomes (behavior, function, affect, cognition) than Age-matched Controls as well as presentations by Dr. Kristen Carpenter for Cancer as a Chronic Illness and Sexual Health and Relationship Enhancement (SHARE) for Women with Breast Cancer: Results from a Clinical Trial.

For more information about the conference see The Scientific Network’s website.

Avery Meyer (OSU ’20) presented her poster, Neonatal outcomes following dual exposure to medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorder and psychotropic medication in utero, at the National Perinatal Association conference this April. This project is the outcome of a collaboration between the Carpenter Lab and OSU’s Substance Abuse Treatment Education and Prevention Program (STEPP)

One of our favorite aspects of having our undergraduate research assistants help out in the lab is seeing them present their original research projects that they’ve worked on! This year, two of our amazing students presented their work to the wider Ohio State University community at the Undergraduate Spring Research Festival.

Sofia Baena (OSU ’21) with her poster: Cognitive impairment in breast and gynecologic cancer patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy.

Carol Wygant (OSU ’20) with her poster: Perceived stress as a mediator for the relationship between personality and mood experienced throughout chemotherapy.

Jill, a breast cancer survivor, joined a clinical study run by Kristen Carpenter, director of Women’s Behavioral Health at Ohio State University, that looks at ways of improving sexual and emotional health after breast cancer. The study of 30 women used mind-body techniques to help them rethink negative, self-directed thoughts. This Washington Post article explores this intervention and more!

We at the Carpenter Lab wish you all a happy 2019! In this updated article, Dr. Kristen Carpenter offers her advice on how to make and keep a New Year’s resolution.

When a significant other has a #MeToo story, solid listening skills are more important than ever. Dr. Kristen Carpenter offers her advice in this Health.com article listing 6 ways partners can be supportive of assault survivors.

The majority of survivors of sexual assault report post-traumatic stress symptoms. How can we move on and regain our healthy sexual lives and move past trauma? Dr. Kristen Carpenter offers her clinical expertise in this article on Health.com.

We’re big fans of this classroom activity led by Dr. Jackson Katz. Are men aware of just how much thought women put into staying safe each and every day? This article summarizes the results of Katz’s activity and points to how simply being a woman can be exhausting.

For some women, breastfeeding isn’t an option — and being reminded of that fact can be difficult to handle. This article, featuring input from Dr. Carpenter, details one new mom and breast cancer survivor’s decision to address the issue head-on, by posting a sign above her hospital bed before giving birth.

Our research team at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is currently enrolling participants to participate in a paid one-time online anonymous survey about sexual health and well-being following a cancer diagnosis.

We are interested in examining health and sexuality in young adults. This study may help us better understand the health, fertility, and sexuality in young adults, particularly those who have experienced a cancer diagnosis at a young age. We hope to learn what factors predict better outcomes in survivors and to see how young adult survivors differ from young adults without a cancer history in sexual health outcomes. The ultimate goal is to use our findings to guide future research in developing tailored sexuality interventions for AYA cancer survivors to reduce poor sexual outcomes.

The survey is online and anonymous and lasts approximately 30-45 minutes. Following completion of the survey, you will be e-mailed a $10 Amazon gift card and have the opportunity to enter a lottery to receive an additional $50 Amazon gift card.

You may be eligible for the study if you are between the ages of 18-39, have been diagnosed with or have a history of cancer, are not currently pregnant, and have access to an internet-enabled device.

If you are interested in participating or learning more about this study, please contact:

Kate Conroy

Katherine.Conroy@osumc.edu

614-685-2093