PhD
Associate Professor
Deputy Director for Research, Geriatric Oncology Program
UNC-Chapel Hill
Breast Cancer
Area of Interest
Kirsten Nyrop, PhD, is a health services researcher focused on intervention studies to preserve function and quality of life in cancer patients during and after treatment, specifically “walking” during chemotherapy in women with breast cancer. Data include ongoing patient-reported symptom monitoring throughout chemotherapy, and patient reported outcomes at baseline, end-of-treatment, and 6 months post chemotherapy. She has also studied weight trajectories in women with early breast cancer, with a focus on the potential role of hormonal therapy, biologics, and specific chemotherapy regimens in current clinical practice.

Study illustrates how obesity-related comorbidities may contribute to mortality gap between Black and white women with early breast cancer
Kirsten Nyrop, PhD, and colleagues found Black women with early breast cancer had higher rates of obesity and other health conditions that can affect outcomes, compared with white women.

Study reveals communication gap between women, doctors about breast cancer treatment symptoms
Kirsten Nyrop, PhD, Hyman Muss, MD, and colleagues compared how women with breast cancer rated the severity of 17 of their own symptoms with physician ratings of chemotherapy toxicity.

Nyrop receives grant to study interventions for racial disparities in breast cancer survival
Kirsten Nyrop, PhD, will lead a one-year qualitative research study on how clinicians can discuss weight management with breast cancer survivors in an effort to decrease racial disparities in obesity-related comorbidities that can affect survivorship.