Cancer patient survivorship starts the day of diagnosis. After twenty years of working with breast cancer patients, and personal experiences with family members, I feel that diet, exercise and mental health are as important as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. In fact, long term these may have more of an impact on recurrence and mortality. There have been more and more studies in the medical literature proving the benefits of lifestyle modification and I take every opportunity to share this knowledge.
I was invited to speak at the American Society of Breast Surgeons 2023 international annual conference in Boston on setting up a survivorship program. Dr. Beth DuPree and I both spoke on the importance of survivorship starting at the time of diagnosis and addressing all aspects of patient well-being.
As the Executive Director of the Redeemer Cancer Center in collaboration with MD Anderson/Cooper, I had multiple opportunities to speak with cancer survivors, patient family members and other clinical providers about survivorship after a cancer diagnosis. We reviewed the long term benefits of lifestyle changes that can decrease symptoms during treatments, decrease cancer recurrence rates and ultimately decrease mortality. 
We discussed dietary improvements, ultra processed food, exercise of all types and how important it is for all of us to address our mental health. I found most audiences were amazed at the science and published literature about the compounding impact that these lifestyle changes (which in our control) can make in our long term health. I relish the opportunities to share this information with people and empower them to make real changes.
I spoke at the Total Health ESMO oncology conference review in Colorado. My lecture was on the new standards around cancer survivorship and that these need to start the day of diagnosis. We reviewed exercise oncology literature, mental health studies and dietary changes that can help cancer outcomes and survival.
I was privileged to be asked to speak at three back-to-back conferences about cancer survivorship. I discussed new updates from the COC, NCCN and NAPBC, as well as the newest research published in the last 12 months. We covered topics of nutrition, exercise and mental health. I spoke in Colorado Springs to a group of oncologists, about the ESMO studies presented in Barcelona Spain this summer. Then at the HLTH technology conference in Las Vagas about virtual platforms that are helping get needed services to communities that do not currently have them. Finally, in Sedona Arizona at a cancer patient retreat about the most up to date research on exercise oncology and the benefits for the immune system, cancer related fatigue, mental health and decreasing overall mortality.
