Survivors, caregivers, researchers, advocates and community partners came together to shape the future of survivorship at the UF Health Cancer Center’s Survivorship Summit on June 28.
“Our goal is to understand how we can meet the real-world needs of cancer survivors and caregivers, with a focus on quality of life,” said Kathryn Pluta, Ph.D., assistant director for community-engaged research support with the center’s Office of Community Outreach & Engagement. “We’re elevating the experiences and voices of those affected by cancer. It’s about coming together to ensure those affected by cancer aren’t navigating it alone and everyone has access to the resources they need.”
Survivorship is not just about medical follow-up after cancer care ends; it encompasses emotional healing, financial support and managing long-term effects.
In 2024, the National Standards for Cancer Survivorship Care were released to guide care for the nation’s 18 million cancer survivors. The Office of Community Outreach and Engagement used those standards to shape the summit, held at ElderCare Senior Recreation Center.
Community partners, including Blossoming Butterfly, The Beautiful Gate Cancer Support & Resource Center, WellFlorida and the North Central Florida Cancer Control Collaborative, provided resources ranging from mental health care to transportation. The Cancer Center’s Clinical Research Office and the UF Health oncology nurse navigators also provided education and support services.
Cancer researchers across the continuum gave presentations on the latest research that’s advancing care, including cardio-oncology, artificial intelligence, kava and its potential to reduce cancer risk, frailty, and caregiver communication.
Personal stories were front and center. Attendees had a chance to reflect on their experiences through a survivorship journey map activity. Three cancer survivors shared powerful messages of hope and resilience.
Shereka Nicole, M.Ed., a cervical cancer survivor and CEO and founder of the Gainesville nonprofit Premier Moms, focused on mental health.
“Don’t stay stuck in the emotions,” she said. “You can stay stuck in the fear and you can stay stuck in the ‘I have cancer and there’s nothing to live for.’ But there’s so much more life that you have even in the diagnosis. Live your life, enjoy your life, do the things you want to do while you’re here because you never know.”
Events like the summit are vital to share knowledge, said Terence Pollard, a colorectal cancer survivor who’s a member of the Cancer Center’s Community Advisory Board and Community-Partnered Cancer Disparities Research Collaborative.
“Education is the key,” he said. “The more you know, the better chance you have to survive.”
Pollard was in good health with no symptoms when he was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer at age 52 after using a Cologuard test. “The most important part of my message is get tested,” he said.
E. Stanley Richardson, the first poet laureate of Alachua County who’s also a member of the Community Advisory Board and a Community Scientist, read a poem about cancer survivorship. To compose the poem, he assembled submissions from community members into a “mosaic” of words. Touching on themes of loss and cancer’s impact on caregivers, the poem resonated with attendees.
“In some cases, it was quite emotional,” said community member Jayne Hargrave, a thyroid and colon cancer survivor. Hargrave was also a caregiver to her mother and sister, who died of colon cancer.
Because of her family history, Hargrave got screened for colon cancer early. That early detection saved her from surgery and chemotherapy: “My sister is the reason I’m still alive,” she said.
Hargrave said the summit was valuable to learn about resources and studies.
“This event really helped with the connection — the ability to talk with people who’ve been there or people who are treating it,” she said. “I’m just grateful to be here and I want to keep being here for my daughter.”
Learn more about survivorship resources at UF Health.
