11:00 - 11:30 a.m. ET

EATING WELL: HEALING NEVER TASTED SO GOOD!

Join chef, oncology nurse and musician (Chefnurcian) Laura Pole and explore the healing practice of eating well. You'll learn some tips on health supportive food selection and eating, and how this helps create a body that cancer doesn't like. Chef Laura will wrap up with a demonstration, giving you a "virtual taste" of a delicious, nourishing snack.

Noon - 1:00 p.m. ET

WELCOME AND OPENING FIRESIDE CHAT

Lisa Rice, Caregiver, Patient Advocate, Survivor, and NCCS Board Member

Shelley Fuld Nasso, MPP

NCCS CEO Shelley Fuld Nasso kicks off the 2021 CPAT Symposium with a “fireside chat” (minus the fire since it’s summer in steamy Washington, DC) with Lisa Rice cancer survivor, advocate, caregiver, and NCCS board member. Lisa was an advocate and caregiver before her own diagnosis, and she will share how her experience taught her to advocate for herself in her own cancer care.

1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ET

PANEL DISCUSSION | COVID AND CANCER

In the last 18 months, our worlds changed. Cancer survivors faced unique challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Join Dr. Otis Brawley, who will share what we know and don’t know about the impact of COVID and the effectiveness of the COVID vaccines for cancer survivors. A panel of patient advocates will share how COVID affected their lives, their health, and their advocacy efforts. 

2:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET

THE BENEFITS AND BURDENS OF PATIENT ADVOCACY

Laura Porter, "Thriving as a Patient Advocate: Balancing the Unseen Burdens"

Shelley Fuld Nasso, MPP

As a patient advocate, you share your time, experience, and wisdom to improve cancer research, care, and support. Advocacy can be both rewarding and challenging. In this session, Dr. Laura Porter, a patient advocate and stage IV colon cancer survivor, will talk about thriving as a patient advocate and balancing the unseen burdens. Shelley Fuld Nasso will present the results of a survey in which NCCS asked advocates about the benefits and burdens of their advocacy work.

7:00 - 8:00 p.m. ET

EVENING NETWORKING

Join us to network with your fellow advocates. We will have several breakout rooms from which to choose for a smaller group discussion.

11:00  - 11:30 a.m. ET

OPTIONAL WELLNESS | THE POWER OF VISUALIZATION

Visualization is a supportive therapy that many patients find helpful. It can help calm anxiety, motivate proper actions, boost confidence, decrease pain, and strengthen hope. Join Dr. Wendy S. Harpham, an internist, cancer survivor, and author, to learn more about the benefits and limits of visualization during treatment, recovery, and long-term survivorship.

Noon - 1:00 p.m. ET

2021 STATE OF CANCER SURVIVORSHIP SURVEY

Shelley Fuld Nasso, MPP

Pam Loeb, Edge Research

You will be the first to hear the results of NCCS’ third annual State of Cancer Survivorship Survey, including what we heard from cancer survivors about disparities in care, the costs of cancer, support systems, needs of people living with metastatic cancer, and cancer treatment during COVID.

1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ET

HEALTH EQUITY - WHAT CAN ADVOCATES DO IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES?

The COVID pandemic laid bare the inequities in our health care system. Cancer advocates have long worked to reduce disparities in outcomes through public policy efforts to improve access to care and increase participation in clinical trials. There are actions advocates can take at a local level to make a difference. In this session, NCCS advocates will share how they are working in their own communities to address disparities and move toward health equity.

2:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET

USING HUMOR TO TELL YOUR STORY

Cancer is serious, but you can still find humor in the everyday of living with a cancer diagnosis. As an advocate, you share your story. Using humor can give your story more energy and make a lasting impression on your audience. Author, coach, comedian, caregiver, and recent cancer survivor Jen Coken will lead a workshop on using humor to tell your story.

7:00 - 8:00 p.m. ET

Q&A WITH DIRECTOR BILL BRUMMEL | CAN YOU HEAR MY VOICE? 

Please register separately for the Friday evening film screening of “Can You Hear My Voice?”  via this link: https://watch.showandtell.film/watch/nccs-screening-event

You can stream the film at your convenience between Monday, June 21 at 11 am (EST), through Sunday, June 27 at 11 pm (EST). Click on the orange button at the above link to register for the event.

On June 25, at 7 PM (EST), join film director Bill Brummel and NCCS for an inspiring live ZOOM discussion about the film, Bill's personal story as a 23-year cancer survivor, and his experience of having his own voice box removed in 2016. As a special treat, Bill will screen a couple of bonus scenes that were not included in the film.

11:00 - 11:30 a.m. ET

OPTIONAL WELLNESS | MOVING FOR LIFE PRESENTS DANCE EXERCISE FOR HEALTH

MOVING FOR LIFE Dance Exercise for Health® is dedicated to helping older adults and people of any age affected by cancer, through dance exercise classes offered at hospitals, community and wellness centers, and libraries. During the pandemic, classes are happening daily online via Zoom. Class starts with a gentle warm-up, light aerobics, and targeted strengthening that is safe, fun, and modified based on your energy level, range of motion, or fitness level. The class can be done seated or standing and is open to everyone. Our methods are supported by research that confirms engagement in therapeutic dance improves quality of life, speeds up recovery time, enhances survivorship, and reduces the chances of recurrence. Join us for online classes every day: at www.movingforlife.org/classes

Noon - 1:00 p.m. ET

CANCER POLICY IN 2021

Debra Curtis, McDermott+Consulting

Elizabeth Goss, JD, Turner & Goss, LLP

Shelley Fuld Nasso, MPP

The pandemic has had a lasting impact on health care, including cancer care. In this session, we will talk with two seasoned health policy experts about key health policy issues in 2021 and the political and policy environment in Washington, DC.  

1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ET

LIVE FROM CAPITOL HILL!
HILL DAY 2021 | WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

This session will prepare you for virtual Hill visits with your members of Congress. We’ll talk about the legislative ask and tips for successful meetings. Even if you aren’t participating in Hill week meetings, you will benefit from hearing from members of Congress, Congressional staff, and experienced advocates. 

2:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET

BREAKOUT SESSIONS 
UNIQUE CHALLENGES OF LONG-TERM CANCER SURVIVORS
 

SESSION 1: Unique Challenges of Long-Term Cancer Survivors
Long-term cancer survivors face unique challenges, including late effects of their treatment. Different treatments cause different late effects, which range from heart disease, lung issues, secondary cancers, and many more. Join a panel of long-term survivors, who will discuss the challenges and what we as advocates need to do to support long-term survivors.

SESSION 2: Survivorship Champions | Grand Rounds
This year NCCS launched Survivorship Champions, a program for clinicians and researchers who are interested in improving survivorship care and primary care’s role in caring for cancer survivors. In partnership with Dr. Ana Maria Lopez, we developed a Grand Rounds curriculum, which we have shared with fellowship programs and conferences. In the Grand Rounds, we describe the impact of the survivorship movement on cancer care, discuss evidence-based survivorship cancer care priorities, and outline gaps in survivorship care. 

SESSION 3: Sex and Cancer
Cancer survivors frequently experience sexual side effects, including both physical issues and concerns with intimacy. Yet, sexual concerns are often not discussed or addressed. Join Dr. Don Dizon, a medical oncologist who specializes in women’s cancers, survivorship issues, and sexual health after cancer, for some frank talk about sex after cancer. Dr. Dizon is a social media  phenomenon who shares educational videos on TikTok, where he is rapidly approaching 40,000 followers. Mary McCabe, retired oncology nurse and former director of Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Initiative Cancer Survivorship, will moderate the discussion. Bring your questions!

7:00 - 8:00 p.m. ET

COMEDY SHOW | JASON DUDEY