Bridging the AYA Survivorship Gap - [Video Podcast] Ep. 57

It is essential for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) to have a foundation of care prior to discharge after their cancer treatment, and the multidisciplinary care team, including primary care providers (PCPs), must be equipped to support these patients. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Scott J. Capozza, PT, MSPT, on his journey navigating care after cancer treatment as a young adult and his ASCO JCO Oncology Practice article, “Patient is Otherwise Healthy.” CANCER BUZZ then speaks with Melody Griffith, MSW, LMSW, Outpatient Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Oncology social worker at Mayo Clinic Arizona, on her role in patient navigation and how her department supports AYAs through their entire cancer continuum. CANCER BUZZ concludes with Cathy Lee-Miller, MD, director of AYA Oncology Clinic at the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, on their cohort training program preparing PCPs for managing AYA survivorship care.  

“The late effects for young adults are very real and a lot of times they are not recognized because we look otherwise healthy on the outside, but that belies what's going on internally.” - Scott J. Capozza, PT, MSPT 

“We talk about post-traumatic stress, but also post-traumatic growth and what they bring with them and what they've learned through their process. It's not just the treatment, right? After treatment, there's a lot of years left to live.” - Melody Griffith, MSW, LMSW

“We really try and help empower these patients, particularly AYAs who maybe relied on their parents for their medical care before... We really try to spell that out for people so they can take responsibility and take charge of their own long-term health.” - Cathy Lee-Miller, MD

Guests:

Scott J. Capozza, PT, MSPT 

Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Oncologic Physical Therapy

Yale New Haven Hospital Outpatient Oncology Rehabilitation Services

Smilow Cancer Hospital Adult Cancer Survivorship Clinic

                                        New Haven, CT

Melody Griffith, MSW, LMSW 

Outpatient Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Oncology Social Worker

Mayo Clinic Arizona

University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center

Madison, WI

Cathy Lee-Miller, MD 

Director, AYA Oncology Clinic

Associate Professor, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Transplant & Cellular Therapy

University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center

Madison, WI

This podcast is part of the AYA Oncology Screening and Survivorship Services program, made possible through the support from The Arizona Clinical Oncology Society, Indiana Oncology Society, and Wisconsin Association of Hematology and Oncology.

Additional Resources:  

• The Arizona Clinical Oncology Society: https://tacos.accc-cancer.org/resources/adolescent-and-young-adult-cancer-resources
• Indiana Oncology Society: https://inos.accc-cancer.org/resources/aya-cancer-resources
• Wisconsin Association of Hematology and Oncology: https://waho.accc-cancer.org/resources/adolescent-and-young-adult-cancer-resources