Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

EVALUATE aims to find out how many people who had breast or colorectal (bowel) cancer cancer in the past (sometimes called cancer survivors) have developed MASLD. The research project will see if there are any features of the cancer or its treatment that increase the risk of MASLD.

By taking part in EVALUATE, you are helping us to better understand how healthy the liver is in people who had cancer 5-10 years ago. Your participation could help raise awareness that liver health is an important part of lifelong care for cancer survivors.

This is the first study in this field so we chose a time frame that is not too wide, to limit the differences in the many other factors that can affect liver health over time. People who finished treatment more recently may still experience long-term effects from their cancer treatment (e.g., chemotherapy). People who have been cancer-free for a longer time may have developed other factors that can affect their liver. Although age and other factors also play a role, this timeframe is the best way to reduce variability and ensure reliable data for our study.

At your first visit, you will complete health questionnaires, discuss your medical history, provide a blood sample, and undergo a test almost identical to a standard liver ultrasound. This visit typically takes about 2 hours. You will be asked if you are interested in taking part in the MRI part of the study in case your results are in the uncertain range.

Depending on your results, you may be invited for the MRI study, which involves a second visit. This visit includes repeating the blood test and ultrasound, with also a liver MRI. The second visit takes approximately 2 hours.

We ask you to not eat anything 3 hours before the visits, but you can drink clear liquids (water, tea, black coffee).

By taking part in this research project, you won’t receive direct medical benefits from this study. However, your participation could help improve care for future cancer survivors. Your involvement may contribute to important research that could benefit others in the future.

Participation in this study only exposes you to the minor risks of having a blood test and an ultrasound of your liver.

If you also have the MRI scan, this also is non-invasive and does not pose any significant risks to your safety or health, while maintaining appropriate safety conditions. You may experience mild effects such as dizziness or discomfort for a few minutes when entering/exiting the MRI machine.

There are no long-term effects associated with any of the procedures you will undergo as part of this project.

You will be offered a CHF 20 BernCity Geschenkcard as a thank you for participating in the research.

Yes. You will receive a summary of your results, and you can ask for your doctor to also get a copy. If we find MASLD, or any other serious finding, we will let you know and will ask your permission to contact your doctors, and we will refer you to our specialist liver clinic or other relevant services.

Yes. All your personal data will be handled confidentially and stored securely in line with strict data protection regulations. Your data will only be used for research purposes. This trial is conducted with all the rules from the Ethics Committee and the processes for clinical research in humans.

Yes. Participation is voluntary. You can withdraw at any time without giving a reason, and it won’t affect your current or future medical care. We will ask you at the time if we can still use any information we have already obtained so far.

The EVALUATE study is being led by a team of healthcare professionals, including Professors specialising in cancer, liver disease, imaging (radiology) and their research team (nurses, study managers, statisticians) at the Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern and Inselspital.

Yes, Patient and Public Panel (PPI) were consulted during the development of this project, ensuring that the project is tailored in a manner that is understandable to the public.