dr. Eline Naert (MD)

CRIG member
Eline Naert


PhD fellow – Prevention of therapy-induced toxicity in pelvic gynecological cancers, UGent, Fac. of Medicine and Health Sciences
Principal investigators: prof Hannelore Denys (MD, PhD), prof Katrien Vandecasteele (MD, PhD) and prof Philippe Tummers (MD, PhD)
Medical oncologist with special focus on pelvic gynecological cancers, breast cancer and geriatric oncology (UZ Gent)
 

Research focus

Approximately 600 new Belgian patients are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year. Seventy percent of them receive treatment with curative intent, consisting of surgery and/or radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy depending on the stage of the disease. As the disease mainly affects patients between 40 and 50 years old, one could assume that the majority of them will be sexually active when diagnosed. Cervical cancer survivors frequently experience long-term consequences of the treatment of which sexual dysfunction is often “forgotten”.

I am investigating the sexual consequences of treatment in cervical cancer survivors with 3 research projects:
1/ VAMOS trial: Impact of vaginal morbidity on sexual functioning in cervical cancer patients treated with curative intent. This trial is recruiting since 07/2019 and included already more than 130 patients. This trial uses patient-reported outcomes (ie standardized questionnaires). 
2/ SEBA trial: Evaluation of implementation of the sexologist in the care path for cervical cancer patients treated with curative intent. This trial is recruiting since 05/2021. 
3/ KWALI trial: Impact of treatment on sexual functioning in cervical cancer patients treated with curative intent: a qualitative data collection based on semi-structured interviews from the patient’s and physician’s point of view. We aim to interview 15 cervical cancer survivors and 15 physicians subspecialized in gynecological oncology working in 5 Flemish hospitals. 

The final goal of these 3 projects is to achieve a complete image of the current situation regarding sexuality in cervical cancer survivors and to translate the results into better patient care. 
 

Biography

I am a medical oncologist working as a staff member at the department of Medical Oncology at the Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium. My main areas of interest are cancers of the female genital tract, breast cancer, cancer survivorship and geriatric oncology. 
I received my MD in 2016 at Ghent University. I am an active member of BSMO, ESMO and ESGO. I am also a member of EORTC and involved in the EORTC Breast Cancer Group, Gynecological Cancer Group and Quality of Life Group. 
 

Contact & links