Talking to Employers and Medical Staff About Breast Cancer Treatment and Your Job (TEAMWork Study)

About the Study

The goal of this study is to improve a tool that helps cancer patients navigate work-related issues. Researchers are testing an early version of a mobile app designed to help breast cancer patients keep their jobs. The app – called TEAMWork (Talking to Employers And Medical staff about Work) – provides advice for patients who need to talk to their employers about treatment or their medical team about work. Researchers want patient feedback on what aspects of the app work well and what can be better.

Type of Study

This a randomized clinical study in which women with nonmetastatic breast cancer will be randomized to either use an app or paper-based resource to them navigate work- and treatment-related issues.  

• This is a randomized study, which means that participants will be placed into one of the two treatment groups by chance. Neither the participant nor their doctor will choose which group they will be assigned to. 
• This is a two-arm study. Participants will be placed into one of the two groups. Each group will receive similar information. 
  • Experimental Group will receive information in the form of an app.  
  • Control Group will receive information in a booklet.

What the Study Entails

Participants will be place in one of two groups:

• Participants in the Experimental Group will receive an app with two main menus:
  • one that helps patients learn how to approach their employer about treatment-based issues
  • one that helps patients learn how to discuss employment needs with their medical providers. Each menu has a list of features, including a "my notes" button that allows participants to take confidential notes, sample videos showing how to approach an employer, letter templates participants can use when requesting accommodations, links to relevant websites, information about legal protections, and more.
• Participants in the Control Group 2 will receive a booklet with all the app-based information, minus the multimedia components.

Participants in both groups will be asked to use the resource and provide feedback on what works well and what can be improved.

Study Sites

• New Jersey
  • Basking Ridge: Memorial Sloan Kettering
    • Contact: Victoria Blinder, MD by phone 646-888-4808 or by email
• Monmouth-Middletown: Memorial Sloan Kettering
  • Contact: Victoria Blinder, MD by phone 646-888-4808 or by email
• New York
  • Bronx: Montefiore Medical Center
    • Contact: Della Makower, MD  718-862-8840
  • Commack: Memorial Sloan Kettering
    •  Contact: Victoria Blinder, MD by phone 646-888-4808 or by email
• Harrison: Memorial Sloan Kettering Westchester
  • Contact: Victoria Blinder, MD by phone 646-888-4808 or by email
• New York City: Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention
  • Contact: Lewis Campbell, MD  212-987-1777
• New York City: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center 
  • Contact: Victoria Blinder, MD by phone 646-888-4808 or by email
  • Contact: Francesca Gany, MD  646-888-8054
• Uniondale: Memorial Sloan Kettering, Nassau
  •   Contact: Victoria Blinder, MD by phone 646-888-4808 or by email

This study is open to women, ages 18-64 who have been diagnosed with stage I-III breast cancer and are:

• Planning to undergo adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy 
• Employed (full or part time) at time of consent
• Can give informed consent in English or Spanish
• Have a smartphone (Android or iPhone) and know how to use it
• Have low confidence in asking for workplace accommodations (based on a brief screening survey)

This study is not open to:

• People with metastatic breast cancer