I started my career as a PhD student at the Comprehensive Cancer Centre South with a thesis on health-related quality of life among long-term cancer survivors. Thereafter, I worked as a post-doctoral researcher at the department of Medical Psychology at Tilburg University on an NWO VICI project on Type D personality among cardiovascular patients. My experience in oncology made me wonder whether Type D personality was also relevant for cancer patients. In 2010 I received an NWO-VENI grant to investigate this.

In the beginning of my career, I was focused on assessing quality of life. Over the years, improving quality of life became a major topic of interest too, especially among patients treated with chemotherapy. In this light, scalp cooling to prevent chemotherapy-induced hair loss caught my attention. Over the years, I performed a number of projects on this topic. These studies helped to initiate wide-spread use of scalp cooling in the Netherlands.

Another side-effect of chemotherapy is chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Since this is a major cancer survivorship issue, I initiated a research line on CIPN. I am currently involved in many CIPN projects and am PI of a large prospective longitudinal study on CIPN in colorectal cancer patients (the PROCORE study). Also, I am PI of the CLIPP-CIPN study in which we develop and test an online ACT intervention in order to help patients cope with painful CIPN. Finally, I am PI of a study in which we test the effect of acupuncture on CIPN.

Besides CIPN, lifestyle has my interest as well. For example, I am PI on the OPTIMUM study which aims to gain insight into the optimal timing and method for promoting sustained adherence to lifestyle and body weight recommendations in post-menopausal breast cancer patients. Also, I am a PI on the ERAB study in which we study how alcohol consumption and beverage choices are influenced by treatment factors and how this is associated with psychosocial wellbeing in colorectal cancer survivors.

Rare cancers deserve more attention than the currently receive. I am PI of the WaTCh study in which we study determinants and mediating mechanisms of quality of life and disease-specific symptoms among thyroid cancer patients. In this large national prospective study we innovatively collect data by means of questionnaires, blood draws, stool samples, Fitbits, online food diaries and weighing scales with a bioelectrical impedance system.

The data of my projects are freely available through the PROFILES registry (www.profilesregistry.nl www.profielstudie.nl) that my colleagues and I developed with investment grants from NWO that we received in 2009 and 2016. I am a member of the executive board of PROFILES. Besides my current focus on colorectal, breast and thyroid cancer, I studied a number of other cancers throughout the years including Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, prostate, and endometrial cancer.

Dr. F.Mols gives the following subjects:

• Clinical health psychology in medical science (422088) Further information
• Klinische gezondheidspsychologie in de geneeskunde
• Bachelor thesis medische en klinische psychologie
• Bachelor thesis medical and clinical psychology

Click here for my courses.

PhD students whom I co-supervise(d);

2009-2013; Olga Husson. Information provision and patient reported outcomes in cancer survivors; with a special focus on thyroid cancer. Defence; March 1st 2013.

2009-2014; Simone Oerlemans. Late effects and long-term health related quality of life in lymphoma patients. Defence; November 7th 2014.

2012-2016; Tonneke Beijers. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: an underestimated side-effect with major impact on quality of life. Defence: December 13th, 2016

2016-2020; Mies van Eenbergen. Patients with cancer collect, communicate and create on the internet Defence: October 28 2020

2015-2020; Cynthia Bonhof. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, the PROCORE study.

2017-2022; Lianne Verdonschot. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, risk prevention and treatment.

2018-2022; Marlou-Floor Kenkhuis. WCRF/AICR lifestyle recommendations among colorectal cancer patients.

2018-2022; Sandra van Cappellen. Towards OPtimal TIming and Method for promoting sUstained adherence to lifestyle and bodyweight recommendations in postMenopausal breast cancer patients, the OPTIMUM study.

2020-2024; Danielle van de Graaf. Patient-centered development and effectiveness of online Acceptance-and-Commitment-Therapy for functional limitations in cancer survivors with persistent, painful chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy