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, OSW-C
Outpatient Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Oncology Social Worker
Mayo Clinic Arizona
Phoenix, AZ
Cathy Lee-Miller, MD
Director, AYA Oncology Clinic
Associate Professor, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Transplant & Cellular Therapy
University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center
Madison, WI
Additional Resources:
The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s)/faculty member(s) and do not reflect the official policy or position of their employer(s) or the Association of Cancer Care Centers.
June 30, 2026
