Cancer Survivorship Symposium Unites Patients and Physicians Through Research and Supportive Care Sessions
The 3rd Annual Sylvester Cancer Survivorship Symposium, taking place Oct. 18 in Coconut Grove, Fla., will have several new features and keynote speakers.
There’s an undeniable, rearview-mirror quality to cancer in the beginning as a patient’s history, genetics and lifestyle habits of old are reviewed.
A cancer diagnosis will snap this point of view jarringly to the present and force future planning. This shift can be difficult when thoughts of what lies ahead are pondered. There will be choices and treatments to consider, including clinical trials and cancer support services to address various needs. From the time of diagnosis, patients and providers begin to focus on “survivorship.”
What does survivorship look like for a patient and caregiver? What about physicians? How can they be better equipped? These questions will be answered at this year’s 3rd Annual Sylvester Cancer Survivorship Symposium on Oct. 18 at the Ritz Carlton in Coconut Grove, Fla.
The conference will once again feature two concurrent sessions designed for distinct audiences: a research/science program for health care providers, researchers and trainees with the option of continuing medical education (CME) credits, and a patient, caregiver and advocate program meant to empower all who are touched by cancer. The theme is “Enhancing Quality of Life and Health Beyond Cancer.”
Sylvester’s Leadership in Cancer Survivorship
Jessica MacIntyre, D.N.P., M.B.A., APRN, executive director of Sylvester’s clinical operations, and Frank Penedo, Ph.D., associate director of population sciences and director of Cancer Survivorship and Supportive Care at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Cancer, part UHealth – University of Miami Health System and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, meticulously designed the 2024 agenda and sessions.
Dr. Penedo and MacIntyre were among 33 select subject matter experts from top academic centers invited by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop the U.S. standards for cancer survivorship care. The content of this symposium condenses many of their recommendations and will share insights with peers.
“There is a great demand for information on how to best care for survivors,” said Dr. Penedo, who noted that there are more than 18 million cancer survivors in the U.S. “Holistically addressing supportive care and emotional, physical and practical needs of cancer survivors is essential to their well-being, and there is growing evidence showing the benefit of these programs. This symposium provides a unique forum where we discuss ongoing research in this space and evidence-based programs to improve the lives of our survivors.”
Patient View
The value of cancer survivorship education is not lost on Sherrie Smyth, who is determined to do everything she can to stay healthy. She is cancer-free and focused intently on positivity. With months of immunotherapy and chemo treatments still ahead, she is vocal about her story, remission and the work that Sylvester has done to restore her health from an inoperable stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis.
“When I heard my physician say, ‘There is no sign of disease,’ I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I’m a survivor.”
Smyth, who lives in Palmetto Bay, Fla., with her husband and teenage daughter, is registered for the symposium and is looking forward to learning more about living well. Sylvester helped provide a precise diagnosis and formulate a plan to bring her into cancer remission. She is looking into cancer support services for how to live even better.
“I’ve learned many things through this ordeal and know I must be my own advocate. Cancer is not the final chapter. It’s just one part of my story,” she said.
Patient Program: New Panel and Speakers
New this year, the patient/caregiver side of the symposium will feature a “Men Talk Cancer” panel discussion.
“We had many requests for more talks on men’s health and more participation by male survivors,” said MacIntyre.
Topics such as how to communicate with providers and loved ones, palliative care, sexual health and the side effects of treatment will be added this year. There will also be increased networking opportunities for patients and caregivers so they can speak with the presenters and other attendees.
In addition, this year’s keynote speaker for the patient/caregiver program is Bill Brummel, who will provide a screening of his documentary, “Can You Hear My Voice?” This moving film features a “cancer choir” of survivors of head and neck cancer. It is Brummel’s first directed film since his own voice box was removed.
Physician Program: New Roundtable Discussions and Networking
In addition to a talk on immunotherapies and assessing and managing toxicities, the scientific program will feature a session on survivorship and genitourinary cancers.
This year, the symposium will host three keynote speakers, including:
• Mary Reid, Ph.D., of Roswell Cancer Institute, one of the first NCI-designated cancer centers in the U.S.
• Felicia Knaul, Ph.D., of the University of Miami
• Michelle Mollica, Ph.D., of the NCI Office of Cancer Survivorship.
“This symposium offers a unique chance to unite and explore groundbreaking research initiatives and comprehensive clinical services. It also provides invaluable insights from our survivors,” said Dr. Penedo. “These gatherings serve as a vital platform for exchanging ideas, identifying new opportunities and shaping the future of cancer survivorship research and care.”
Tags: cancer research, Cancer Survivorship Program, Cancer Survivorship Symposium, Dr. Frank Penedo, Jessica MacIntyre, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center