Danish Research Center for Equality in Cancer (COMPAS)

Danish Research Centre for Equality in Cancer focuses on the development of clinical interventions that will benefit all cancer patients including socially vulnerable patients. Social inequality in cancer survivorship is a growing problem. Patients with lower education levels, low income and patients that live alone have poorer chances of survival than highly educated and wealthier patients, who are in relationships. The social inequality is documented at all steps in the course of cancer disease, from primary prevention to examination, diagnosis and treatment to rehabilitation and palliation. 

The research centre has gathered scientific experts within the fields of anthropology, psychology, cancer treatment, rehabilitation, palliation and epidemiology to develop interventions to counteract social inequality in the course of cancer and to ensure that all cancer patients get through their treatment and following courses in the best way possible. 

The centre is located at Zealand University Hospital and managed by Professor Susanne Oksbjerg Dalton. 

The Steering Committee is Head of Centre Susanne Dalton, Head Consultant Dep. of Oncology, Region Zealand Mads Nordahl Svendsen and Professor, Head Consultant, Dep. of Oncology, Rigshospitalet, Christoffer Johansen as well as the leaders of six working packages: Tine Tjørnhøj Thomsen, Jan M. Nørgaard, Pernille Bidstrup, Hanne Tønnessen og Karen la Cour.

The six working packages are each focusing on a separate research area: 

1. What is at stake?
Perspectives on cancer treatment from patients and personnel focusing on the clinical everyday life.
Managed by Professor Tine Tjørnhøj-Thomsen, University of Copenhagen. 

2. Change the practice - not the patient
Change of clinical practice to make room for patients that would not fit in otherwise.
Managed by Jan Maxwell Nørgaard, Aarhus University Hospital. 

3. Navigation in complex treatment
Navigation and needs-driven support for patients with a fragile network and few health competences.
Managed by Senior Researcher Pernille Bidstrup, Danish Cancer Society Research Center. 

4. Against all odds
Lifestyle interventions for patients with high risk of complications after cancer surgery.
Managed by Professor Hanne Tønnesen, Bispebjerg Hospital. 

5. Rehabilitation and palliative treatment for socially vulnerable patients
Focus on the transition to palliative treatment for socially vulnerable cancer patients. Managed by Professor Karen la Cour, REHPA. 

6. Preparation instead of reparation
Intensive workout as prevention of physical weakening for patients in neoadjuvant oncological therapy.
Managed by Professor Susanne Oksbjerg Dalton. 

Susanne Dalton
Professor, Head of Centre
sanne@cancer.dk

Gunn Ammitzbøll
Postdoc
gai@regionsjaelland.dk