Cancer survivors in the U.S. are increasing. While this growth is a sign of progress, the need for comprehensive survivorship care is more pressing than ever. Many survivors experience lingering physical and psychosocial symptoms that can persist for years, even decades, after treatment. However, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the quality of survivorship care varies significantly, leaving many survivors with unmet needs.
Sylvester has long recognized the importance of addressing these needs. The center's leadership played a pivotal role in the development of new NCI standards for survivorship care. Under the guidance of experts like Frank J. Penedo, Ph.D., associate director of population sciences and director of Cancer Survivorship and Supportive Care and Jessica MacIntyre, D.N.P., APRN, assistant vice president of Advanced Practice Providers, Sylvester has created a robust survivorship program that integrates evidence-based care, including psychosocial services, lifestyle medicine and rehabilitation. "Sylvester's program is unique in Florida," said Dr. Penedo.
"We are one of the few centers offering a comprehensive, individualized approach to survivorship."
This program includes specialized wellness clinics tailored to different cancer types, from lymphoma to breast and gastrointestinal cancers. These clinics are designed to help survivors manage their health, including screenings for recurrence, vaccination schedules and support for emotional well-being.
Research is also at the core of Sylvester's survivorship care. As an NCI-designated cancer center, Sylvester is studying patient outcomes and exploring how individual therapies, like music therapy, affect survivors. A focus of Sylvester's research includes how survivorship experiences differ across South Florida's communities.
Dr. Frank J. PenedoIn addition, Sylvester continues to lead the "Avanzando Caminos" (Leading Pathways) study, a groundbreaking research initiative focused on cancer survivorship in Hispanic/Latino populations. Funded by a $9.8 million grant from the NCI, the study aims to identify the factors contributing to poorer health outcomes and quality of life among Latino cancer survivors. In partnership with the Mays Cancer Center at the University of Texas, this large-scale study strives to improve care and enhance cancer survivorship outcomes.
Through its innovative approach, Sylvester is helping redefine cancer survivorship care, ensuring that survivors not only live longer, but also thrive long after their treatment ends.
MELODIES OF RESILIENCE
Can combining music therapy and mindfulness help cancer patients navigate the emotional and physical challenges of treatment? This is the focus of an innovative study Dr. Penedo and Teresa L. Lesiuk, Ph.D., from the University of Miami Frost School of Music, are leading. The study, supported by a five-year, $2.6 million grant from the NCI and other federal agencies, investigates whether integrating these two disciplines can alleviate depression, anxiety and treatment-related physical symptoms, all of which affect many cancer patients.
The study, which focuses on patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation, combines mindfulness techniques with music therapy to reduce stress and enhance the immune response. Music therapy has already been shown to improve cognitive function and decrease pain, while mindfulness helps reduce stress and supports emotional well-being.
By tracking both psychological and biological outcomes, Sylvester's researchers hope to establish a direct link between these interventions and improved health outcomes for cancer patients, potentially making this approach a standard part of cancer care.
CHERISHING LIFE
In 2024, Sylvester gathered to honor the triumphs of over 100 cancer survivors at the "Celebration of Life" event. Among the voices that resonated was that of Donna Scott, a breast cancer survivor whose journey from diagnosis to being cancer-free became a reference point for resilience and renewal.
This celebration of personal triumphs gained strength through the transformative power of storytelling. "Rewriting Cancer," a poignant short-film branded-content series by BBC StoryWorks, spotlighted Scott's narrative alongside others, casting a light on the courage and strength of those rewriting the script of survivorship.
Building on this momentum, the spirit of renewal found a resounding echo at the 3rd Annual Sylvester Cancer Survivorship Symposium. Its dual focus – empowering patients and equipping providers – shifted the conversation from "Will you live?" Drs. Penedo and MacIntyre designed the symposium, transforming survivorship into a movement and inspiring new approaches to care and recovery.
"It was humbling and inspiring to witness so many dedicated voices united in the pursuit of thriving beyond cancer," reflected MacIntyre.