Resources

This page includes a list of decision support tools created by our group. The tools are organized across the cancer care continuum: prevention, screening, treatment and survivorship. Each tool has a photo slideshow that you can browse to see screenshots of the tool. Choose a category below. 

Medications to Prevent Breast Cancer 

Women at high risk of breast cancer can benefit from preventive therapy, yet uptake is low. Before a visit with a health care provider, patients watch a video that teaches them about the benefits and harms of medications like tamoxifen and raloxifene to prevent breast cancer. It features real patients sharing their experience with preventive therapy. During the visit, a website allows the health care provider to give more personalized information to the patient about their risk of breast cancer with and without preventive therapy. 

Sponsor: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Duncan Family Institute for Cancer Prevention and Risk Assessment 

Principal Investigators: Abenaa Brewster, M.D., M.H.S., and Therese B. Bevers, M.D., FAAFP 

Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy 

After mastectomy for unilateral breast cancer, many patients consider contralateral prophylactic mastectomy. Often these decisions are based on misconceptions about benefits. This website allows a breast surgeon to calculate a patient’s personalized risk of developing a new breast cancer or dying from any cause with and without a contralateral prophylactic mastectomy. Together, the surgeon and patient can assess the benefits and risks and decide whether to go through with the procedure. 

Sponsor: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)

Principal Investigator: Abenaa Brewster, M.D., M.H.S.

Lung Cancer Screening: Is It Right for Me?   

Lung cancer screening can save lives through early detection and treatment. However, lung cancer screening can lead to harms like false positives, radiation exposure and overdiagnosis. This video decision aid teaches patients about the potential benefits and harms of lung cancer screening. It is made to be watched before a visit with a health care provider to discuss lung cancer screening.  

Sponsor: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)

Principal Investigator: Robert J. Volk, Ph.D.
 

Colorectal Cancer Screening Shared Decision Making Toolkit    

Primary care clinicians need support to implement new guidelines from the American Cancer Society (ACS) about colorectal cancer screening. The ACS updated its guideline about colorectal cancer screening. This suite of downloadable decision support tools for primary care providers and patients encourages patients to complete and adhere to colorectal cancer screening based on updated guidelines. 

Sponsor: American Cancer Society

Principal Investigator: Robert J. Volk, Ph.D.

Maintenance Therapy: A Decision Aid for Women with Advanced Ovarian Cancer  

Maintenance therapy may prevent or delay cancer recurrence in women with advanced ovarian cancer. However, it can cause troublesome side effects and it may not lengthen a patient’s life. This publicly-available decision aid teaches women about the benefits and harms of maintenance therapy so they can make an informed decision with their health care provider. 

Sponsor: AstraZeneca 

Principal Investigator: Larissa Meyer, M.D., M.P.H., FACOG, FACS 
 

Breast Cancer Treatment Decision Support  

Adding chemotherapy to other treatments like surgery and radiation may not extend life expectancy for older women with early stage breast cancer. Older people are also at higher risk of harmful side effects of chemotherapy. This decision aid teaches women about the benefits and harms of chemotherapy for early stage breast cancer. It also allows health care providers to estimate a person’s risk of side effects and life expectancy. Together, the patient and provider can decide if the benefits of chemotherapy outweigh the harms. 

Sponsor: National Cancer Institute 

Principal Investigator: Meghan Karuturi, M.D., M.Sc.

MTC Educate: A Medullary Thyroid Cancer Education Website  

Patients with medullary thyroid cancer face many treatment decisions during the course of their disease. This publicly available website teaches patients about treatment options and helps them think about which treatment they prefer. Together with their health care providers, patients can make informed treatment decisions. 

Sponsor: MD Anderson Institutional Research Grant

Principal Investigators: Elizabeth Grubbs, M.D., M.S., and Mimi Hu, M.D.

ASSESS: A Novel Breast Cancer Decision Support Tool   

Many patients and their health care providers struggle with decisions about adjuvant therapy for breast cancer. For some patients with newly diagnosed, early-stage breast cancer, the absolute benefits of adjuvant therapy are small and the toxicities are substantial. This website is in a development and testing phase. It will help patients and physicians make adjuvant therapy decisions by providing personalized estimates of outcomes and benefits of adjuvant therapy. 

Sponsor: Susan G. Komen Foundation

Principal Investigator: Sharon H. Giordano, M.D., M.P.H., FASCO

Which treatment should I have first for advanced ovarian cancer?    

Most women with advanced ovarian cancer will have both chemotherapy and surgery. Some women have the option to choose which treatment to begin first. This website helps patients and physicians decide which treatment to have first by providing information on the harms and benefits of neoadjuvant chemotherapy versus primary cytoreductive surgery. 

Sponsor: National Cancer Institute

Principal Investigator: Larissa Meyer, M.D., M.P.H., FACOG, FACS

Pathways: A Fertility Preservation Decision Aid for Women with Cancer.

Which treatment should I have first for advanced ovarian cancer?   

Cancer treatment can cause infertility in women. However, few women of childbearing age are offered fertility preservation before their cancer treatment. This interactive website teaches women about options for fertility preservation to help them decide if they would like to pursue fertility preservation before cancer treatment. 

Sponsor: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Duncan Family Institute for Cancer Prevention and Risk Assessment

Principal Investigator: Terri L. Woodard, M.D.

Considering Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy   

Following mastectomy, women face decisions about whether, when, and/or what method of breast reconstruction is right for them. Before a visit with a reconstructive surgeon, patients watch a video about the different options for reconstruction. Patients also complete a workbook that helps them clarify their preferences so they can make an informed decision at the visit with their surgeon. 

Sponsor: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Duncan Family Institute for  Cancer Prevention and Risk Assessment

Principal Investigator: Gregory Reece, M.D., FACS

Colorectal Cancer Surveillance: A Decision-support Tool for Patients and Providers Following Colon or Rectal Cancer Treatment    

Colorectal cancer patients have many misconceptions about surveillance after treatment. These online and paper decision support tools prepare patients to have a conversation with their surgeon/oncologist about surveillance strategies. 

Sponsor: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)

Principal Investigator: George J. Chang, M.D., M.S., MHCM, FACS, FASCRS, FSSO

Exercise for Colorectal Cancer Survivors     

Exercise can improve quality of life and reduce symptoms for colorectal cancer survivors. However, it can be difficult for health care providers to customize an exercise plan for a particular patient. This website allows a person to enter information about their health conditions, current activity level and exercise goals to help their health care provider create personalized exercise recommendations. 

Sponsor: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Duncan Family Institute for Cancer Prevention and Risk Assessment

Principal Investigator: Karen Basen-Engquist, Ph.D., M.P.H.