Getting ready for brain tumor treatment can feel overwhelming. The REFINE study offers a free health check you can do from home, and it will not change or delay your treatment. You’ll get personal results and practical suggestions to help you feel stronger before, during, and after radiation.
Why this matters
Some people have a harder time with cancer treatment than others. Doctors can often predict this by looking at your overall health: your medical history, medications, mood, memory and thinking, physical activity, and the support you have at home. Together, these give a picture of how well your body and mind can handle treatment. Doctors call this “resilience” or “frailty.”
Resilience is not about your age or how tough you are. Many people starting brain tumor treatment have at least one area where extra support could help. In our research, this was true for about half of adults 50 and older.
The good news is that resilience can often be improved. When people know where they stand, they can get support that helps them do better during treatment, such as exercise programs, nutrition help, or help with mood or memory. Right now, most people with brain tumors are never offered this kind of information. REFINE aims to change that.
Who can join
You may be able to take part if you:
- Are age 50 or older
- Have a primary brain tumor, meaning a tumor that started in the brain (such as a glioma or meningioma), not cancer that spread from somewhere else
- Are planning to start radiation therapy
- Live in the United States (can be treated at any institution)
If you’re not sure whether you qualify, just call and ask.
Contact us soon
The health check must be done before your first radiation session, and treatment often starts quickly. Please reach out as soon as you know you’ll need radiation, even if your start date isn’t set yet. Most people can complete the health check within several days of contacting us.
What taking part involves
- A health check from home. This takes about 1 hour. You can do it online and via video with a member of our team. It can be split into shorter sessions if you get tired. You’ll answer questions about your health, medicines, mood, daily activities, and support at home. It also includes some memory and thinking activities. A family member or caregiver is welcome to help (although they cannot help with memory and thinking activities). The team can help with video setup.
- Your personal results. You’ll receive a copy of your results along with suggestions for support. Some are things you can do at home. We encourage you to talk them over with your doctor but nothing will be shared without your permission. You can be connected with resources by your local doctor, or we can recommend free online navigator programs that can help connect patients to resources.
- Check-ins over the next year. We’ll check in 3 times over the next year to see how you’re doing, including any changes in memory and thinking. Each takes about 1 hour and can be done from home.
Common questions
Will this change or delay my cancer treatment? No. Taking part will not change or delay your radiation or other treatments.
Does it cost anything? There’s no cost to take part, and participants receive $15 for each of the 4 sessions (up to $60 total, paid by gift card).
Who is running this study? REFINE is led by Dr. Sara Hardy, a radiation oncologist at the University of Washington and Fred Hutch Cancer Center. The University of Washington’s research ethics board has reviewed the study.
Can I stop at any time? Yes. Taking part is your choice, and you can leave the study at any time without it affecting your care.
Learn more
Call or email our study coordinators:
📞 (206) 897-2121 (answered 9 AM – 5 PM Pacific Time) ✉️ [email protected]
Questions are always welcome, even if you’re just curious.
