Charlotte Vandamme
I am Charlotte Vandamme, currently holding a position as a Graduate Assistant and PhD candidate in Health Psychology at the University of Lausanne. After a professional career as a nurse, I later pursued an academic path in psychology.
My dissertation aims to better understand the experiences of individuals who have undergone surgery for head and neck cancer. The consequences of these treatments are numerous, affecting patients on physical, psychological, and social levels. Additionally, head and neck cancers are among those with the highest suicide risk, yet they remain largely understudied.
My research follows a mixed-methods approach. On one hand, I explore the experiences of women facing this type of cancer; on the other, I analyze life narratives to examine the autobiographical reasoning of individuals who have undergone treatment. Finally, part of my study is grounded in attachment theory, aiming to identify protective factors that may help mitigate the harmful effects of this disease.
This approach seeks to enhance our understanding of life trajectories and resilience mechanisms in patients affected by head and neck cancer.
Abstracts this author is presenting: