Gendered diseases like cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, and uterine cancer reflect gender disparities. Our research focuses on overcoming barriers to prevention and treatment of these cancers in order to build a healthier, more just world that centers, rather than marginalizes, women’s health.
Cervical cancer is a singular disease. It’s one of the most treatable and preventable cancers: a vaccine protects against most cancer-causing strains of Human Papillomavirus (HPV), and the Pap smear, a screening test, can detect precancerous cells. Yet cervical cancer is one of deadliest cancers for women globally: more than 250,000 women die yearly from cervical cancer, and in 26 countries it is the leading cause of cancer death among women (World Health Organization, 2026). The development of cervical cancer signifies a failure of our healthcare system to screen for and treat this preventable but highly deadly cancer. In this respect, cervical cancer rates serve as a proxy for the presence or absence of resources to care for women and to support their reproductive health, and ultimately, for society’s overall commitment to women’s healthcare rights.
Cervical cancer prevention and care in conflict-affected settings
Armed conflict, forced displacement, and humanitarian crises can severely disrupt cervical cancer prevention and care, compromising screening, timely diagnosis, treatment, and continuity of services. Strength and Serenity is examining how conflict-related health system disruptions affect cervical cancer outcomes among women across diverse crisis-affected settings. The study will quantify changes in screening coverage, stage at diagnosis, access to treatment, and cervical cancer mortality, while identifying health system vulnerabilities and opportunities for resilient, crisis-sensitive prevention and care strategies.
The socioecological model of partner abandonment among women undergoing cancer treatment
Partner abandonment and disruptions in intimate partner support can intensify the psychological, social, and clinical challenges experienced by women undergoing cancer treatment. We’re undertaking a project synthesizes evidence on predictors and health-related consequences of relationship dissolution, rejection, and loss of emotional or practical support during illness. Outcomes of interest include treatment adherence, continuity of care, quality of life, psychological distress, coping, morbidity, mortality, and healthcare responses. The project uses a socioecological perspective to examine how individual, relational, community, and structural factors interact to shape these experiences.
Related projects
Building capacity for women’s cancer care in Bangladesh
Strength and Serenity actively supports the education of residents and fellows in the global challenges of screening for and treating women’s cancer in Bangladesh.
Related publications
Akhter, T. , Pervin, S. , Baqui, S. , Ara, R. , Haque, F. , Nigar, T. , Yeasmin, D. , Khan, S. and Goodman, A. (2024) Evaluation of the Factors Associated with Delay in Initiation of Treatment of Advanced Stage Cervical Cancer Patients in Bangladesh. Journal of Cancer Therapy, 15, 381-400. doi: 10.4236/jct.2024.1511035.
Osnytska, Y. , Martin, L. and Goodman, A. (2023) Cervical Cancer Prevention Challenges and Barriers to Cervical Cancer Screening and HPV Vaccinations in Ukraine and Eastern Europe. Health, 15, 525-543. doi: 10.4236/health.2023.156036.
Haque, F., Pervin, S. and Goodman, A. (2023) Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Patients and Clinicopathological Features and Survival: A Comparison of Outcomes of Two Age Cohorts in Bangladesh. Journal of Cancer Therapy, 14, 416-428. doi: 10.4236/jct.2023.1410035.
Shahida, S., Chowdhury, M. , Shajahan, F. , Rifat, J. , Lubaba, A. , Shamsuzzaman, S. and Goodman, A. (2023) Distribution of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Genotypes among Women with Colposcopic Diagnosis of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia in Bangladesh. Journal of Cancer Therapy, 14, 277-290. doi: 10.4236/jct.2023.146023.
Kalam, F., Pervin, S., Joy, K.M.N.I., Islam, J. and Goodman, A. (2021) Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Followed by Surgery versus Primary Surgery in Advanced Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: A Review of Outcomes at National Institute of Cancer Research Hospital in Bangladesh. Journal of Cancer Therapy, 12, 621-633. https://doi.org/10.4236/jct.2021.1211054
Nigar, T., Goodman, A. & Pervin, S. Total Antioxidant Capacity and Lipid Peroxidation Status in Cervical Cancer Patients Compared with Women Without Cervical Cancer in Bangladesh. Indian J Gynecol Oncolog 19, 60 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40944-021-00560-6
Akhter, T., Pervin,S. and Goodman, A. (2020) Quality of Life in Ovarian-Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy. Journal of Cancer Therapy, 11, 695-714. https://doi.org/10.4236/jct.2020.1111059
Ara R, Khatun S, Pervin S, Jahan M, Shahera U, Ferdous J, Akter Begum S, Fatema S, Begum M, Nazneen S, Goodman A. (2020). Role of Molecular Biomarker Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) E6 Oncoprotein in Cervical Cancer Screening. Gynecologic Oncology 158, 590-596.
Dowla R, Goodman A, Akter S. (2020). Prevalence of Various Cancer-Related Risk Factors among the Forcibly Displaced Myanmar National Community, the Rohingya, in Bangladesh: A Preliminary Assessment. Journal of Cancer Therapy 11, 251-264.
Dowla R, Goodman A, Kashem T. (2019). “Art therapy to improve quality of life of cancer patients and their carers in Bangladesh” Journal of Cancer Therapy 10 (6), 485-470. DOI: 10.4236/jct.2019.106038