The Power of Support Through a Cancer Diagnosis
- New data from the SISTER trial, presented at the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) Annual Meeting, show that one-to-one peer support significantly improves treatment completion rates for women with high-grade endometrial cancer.
- The trial data show that 84% of endometrial cancer patients completed therapy, compared with roughly 50% without individualized support.
- “The key takeaway from the study is that surviving a cancer diagnosis is much more than surgery and treatment. Our environment, our support, or lack thereof, makes a big difference,” Dr. Kemi Doll, a gynecologic oncologist, who also led the clinical trial presented at the 2026 Society of Gynecologic Oncology, tells SurvivorNet.
- Women who participated in group support had slightly lower treatment completion rates: 68% of participants completed treatment, compared to 64% without group support.
- The SISTER study is the first randomized clinical trial designed specifically for Black and African American women with endometrial cancer.
- The study comes amid projections of sharply rising cases and deaths from endometrial cancer, with Black women expected to face nearly triple the death rate by 2050, according to research published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
- Persistent disparities in care continue to affect outcomes for Black women, who are less likely to receive guideline‑concordant treatment, minimally invasive surgery, or timely hysterectomies, and experience higher recurrence rates.
“The key takeaway from the study is that surviving a cancer diagnosis is much more than surgery and treatment. Our environment, our support, or lack thereof, makes a big difference,” says Dr. Kemi Doll, who is a gynecologic oncologist, surgeon, and health equity scientist at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center at UW Medical Center.
Read MoreEndometrial (uterine) cancer begins in the lining of the uterus and often presents with symptoms such as abnormal vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain.
The impact of one-to-one peer support comes amid growing concern for Black women facing endometrial cancer.
Research published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention projects a sharp rise in endometrial cancer diagnoses over the next three decades, with Black women expected to face the steepest increases in both the number of cases and deaths.
Modeling data predict that by 2050, endometrial cancer cases will rise substantially for both Black and White women, with Black women projected to experience nearly triple the mortality rate.
Photo: Instagram/KemiDoll
Additional research published in Cancer Control highlights persistent disparities in care, noting that Black women are less likely to receive guideline‑concordant treatment, minimally invasive surgery, or timely hysterectomies, and face higher rates of the cancer returning after initial treatment, also called recurrence.
Against this backdrop, the new SISTER study data presented at SGO in Puerto Rico carry significant weight, highlighting the influence of one-to-one peer support for patients.
Live from the #SGOAM26 Plenary: Kemi Doll, MD (@UWMedicine @fredhutch) discusses the SISTER study, comparing social interventions for support in treatment of endometrial cancer and recurrence.
Key takeaways:
•Proof of concept: Enrolling a large number of Black women with… pic.twitter.com/pqoJGpsnTJ— Moffitt Cancer Center (@MoffittNews) April 11, 2026
The trial evaluated how different forms of social support influence treatment completion and recurrence among Black women with high‑risk endometrial cancer.
What Does the Trial Data Say?
One of the most striking findings from the trial was that one‑to‑one peer support had a measurable, statistically significant impact on treatment completion.
84% of women who received individualized peer support completed their full treatment course, compared to roughly 50% of women who had no peer support at all.
Group‑based support showed smaller differences, with 68% of participants completing treatment compared to 64% without group support.
“This was a very surprising finding, and one that we are digging into,” Doll tells SurvivorNet regarding the disparity between patients with a one-to-one peer battling the same disease and those in a group setting.
Dr. Doll explains that patients in the group-based arm had more stage 4 patients than the one-to-one peer group or the control arm.
“Given that stage 4 on its own had a higher risk of incomplete treatment (RR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1,2.5), this likely affected the overall Group-support numbers. We also wonder if the group support comparison between participants may have resulted in some feeling less motivated to complete treatment if their symptoms or situation were seen to be worse than those of others.”
Doll noted patients who did not complete treatment mostly stemmed from disease progression, meaning the cancer worsened, or adverse side effects were too taxing on the body.
“Often, Black women are tasked with being strong and independent, but that kind of ‘strength’ is literally life-threatening when facing cancer treatment. This study was designed because earlier research found that Black women systematically were receiving less treatment and stopping earlier – factors directly related to our 2-fold increased mortality risk after endometrial cancer diagnosis,” Dr. Doll said.
The data reinforce what many clinicians and survivors have long described anecdotally, the “power of support” during cancer treatment. In this case, the evidence shows that a personalized, one‑to‑one connection may be especially meaningful for Black women facing high‑risk endometrial cancer, offering a notable boost in treatment adherence and potentially improving long‑term outcomes.
Expert Resources for Endometrial Cancer Patients
Better Understanding Endometrial Cancer and Treatment Options
After a woman has been diagnosed with endometrial cancer, her doctor will stage the cancer based on its spread within the body. A pelvic exam and imaging tests help your doctor learn if the cancer has spread or metastasized.
Some common risk factors for endometrial cancer include:
- Obesity
- Taking estrogen-only hormone replacement therapy after menopause
- Having never given birth or started menstruation at an early age
- Having a family history of endometrial cancer
In recent years, endometrial cancer patients have seen an increasing number of treatment options emerge to make battling the disease more manageable.
WATCH: New Combination Therapy for Advanced Endometrial Cancer Patients
The impact of new combination therapies on advanced endometrial cancer – a type of cancer that affects the lining of the uterus – is a significant advance for treating the disease. Patients are living longer, healthier lives.
Durvalumab (brand name IMFINZI) is an immunotherapy drug that’s often used alongside chemotherapy.
Olaparib (brand name LYNPARZA) is a PARP inhibitor, a type of drug that helps treat some cancers by blocking an enzyme called PARP that helps repair damaged DNA in cells. Olaparib destroys cancer cells, especially cells that already have trouble repairing their DNA. Sometimes, it’s used as an add-on to durvalumab.
“For a long time, patients with early-stage endometrial cancer generally do very well with a combination of surgery, maybe some radiotherapy,” says Dr. Shannon Westin, a professor in the Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine at the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX.
“However, there’s a population of patients who are diagnosed at a later stage, stage three or four, or who have their cancer come back after initial therapy. And those patients have had a really hard time,” she adds.
According to Westin, the latest treatments combine immunotherapy with standard chemotherapy plus a drug that prevents cancer cells from fixing their own DNA.
The results are encouraging, especially for patients who have late-stage endometrial cancer or whose disease has come back.
Some known side effects of durvalumab and Olaparib include:
Durvalumab can cause inflammation in various parts of the body, which can lead to:
- Skin rashes
- Diarrhea
- Liver inflammation
Olaparib may lead to side effects such as:
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Blood-related issues such as anemia
- Increased risk of developing certain other cancers due to the DNA repair inhibition.
Another U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved combination therapy for advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer to be used with traditional chemotherapy is dostarlimab-gxly (brand name Jemperli). It is an immune checkpoint inhibitor, a type of immunotherapy that helps reinvigorate the body’s immune system to fight cancer.
WATCH: Treatment for Advanced or Recurrent Endometrial Cancer
Dostarlimab-gxly was already approved for metastatic and recurrent endometrial cancer in cases where chemotherapy did not work. Now, dostarlimab-gxly is approved as part of the first treatment for patients who have a specific set of genetic mutations called mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR) or microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H). These genetic factors are associated with a much greater response to the checkpoint inhibitor class of drugs.
Questions for Your Doctor
If you have been diagnosed with endometrial cancer and have questions about your treatment, side effects, or something else, SurvivorNet encourages you to prepare for your next appointment by using its proprietary AI tool “My Health Questions.” This powerful resource can help answer lingering questions and formulate new ones to share with your care team.
Some additional questions you may consider asking your care team may include:
- What stage is my endometrial cancer?
- What are the treatment options available for my specific type and stage of endometrial cancer?
- What are the potential side effects of each treatment option, and how can they be managed?
- What is the expected prognosis for my condition?
- Are there any clinical trials or experimental treatments that I may be eligible for?
- How often will I need follow-up appointments and tests to monitor my condition?
- Are there any lifestyle changes or dietary recommendations that can help improve my prognosis or manage side effects?
- What support services are available to help me cope with the emotional and practical aspects of living with endometrial cancer?
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