FoRtitude: an online program to ease fear of cancer recurrence for breast cancer survivors
Official title: Randomized controlled trial of FoRtitude: Targeted eHealth intervention to reduce fear of recurrence among breast cancer survivors in community oncology settings
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11376163 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A woman who has finished breast cancer treatment uses an online program to learn easy CBT-based steps to feel less worried about cancer coming back.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $648,804 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA282682-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11376163 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Breast cancer survivors with moderate to severe fear of recurrence who are capable of using an online program and may benefit from CBT-based strategies.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without significant fear of recurrence, or those unable to access or engage with online interventions, may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
Breast cancer survivors who experience ongoing fear of recurrence can access FoRtitude as a 4-week, online intervention designed with CBT-based techniques and interactive tools. The program builds skills to manage worries, avoid unhelpful thoughts, and stay engaged in daily life while addressing barriers like cost, time, and access to in-person care. This project adapts the approach for diverse communities and compares the CBT content and a health-management control, with optional telephone coaching to boost adherence. The trial builds on prior work showing reductions in fear after digital CBT and aims to improve reach and engagement in real-world community oncology settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience reduced fear of recurrence and better quality of life through a scalable online program integrated into routine care.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier digital CBT work showed reductions in fear of recurrence and improved engagement, supporting potential benefit for FoRtitude 2.0.
Where this research is happening
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Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wagner, Lynne I. — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Wagner, Lynne I.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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FoRtitude: An eHealth program to help breast cancer survivors manage fear of recurrence
This program offers breast cancer survivors an online tool to help them cope with the worry that their cancer might come back.
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Helping breast cancer survivors manage their fear of cancer returning
This study is testing a helpful online program called FoRtitude, designed to support breast cancer survivors in managing their fear of the cancer coming back, using friendly tools and strategies over four weeks.
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Impact of fear of cancer recurrence on health behaviors in breast cancer survivors and their partners
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Helping breast cancer survivors cope with fear of cancer recurrence
This study is looking at how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can help breast cancer survivors who are really worried about their cancer coming back, so they can feel better and live more fully.
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A patient-friendly, online program uses coping skills to relieve AI-related joint pain and improve taking AI medication.
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Online pain-coping program for joint pain from aromatase inhibitors
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.