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- Life After Cancer
- Survivorship Week
Cancer Survivorship Week
All cancer patients, from the time of diagnosis through their life during and after treatment, are survivors. Family members, friends and caregivers also are affected by cancer and are survivors, too.
To commemorate National Cancer Survivors Day, held annually on the first Sunday in June, MD Anderson is hosting events June 1-7, 2025.
Events will be held online, making these activities safe and accessible and reducing the spread of infection.
View the survivorship week calendar below or open the calendar as a PDF.
Activities included:
- Lectures about anticancer living, stress management, nutrition, meditation, fertility and family planning, and online Labyrinth session
- Skin care classes
- Makeup classes
- Resource fairs
- Support groups
- Events hosted by the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) program, including restorative yoga and a support group
- Check out additional survivorship resources and get the Labyrinth handout.
Don’t miss these videos:
- Building your own vision board at home
- History of Labyrinths
- Guided Labyrinth Meditation
- Music and mindfulness exercise
- Music and breath synchronization exercise
- Anticancer Living: Transform Your Life and Health with the Mix of Six
- Yoga breathing exercises
- Chair yoga
All patients, from the time of diagnosis through their life during and after treatment, as well as family members, friends and caregivers, are invited to join online events and use these resources.
Donate to Survivorship Programs
Support Survivorship Week and other programs that educate cancer survivors.
Survivorship Week 2025 Calendar
Monday, June 2
askMDAnderson
10-11 a.m.
Join via Zoom
Janice Finder, AskMDAnderson executive director
With a cancer diagnosis comes many questions, and askMDAnderson has answers.
Our knowledgeable staff will listen to patients’ questions and help them understand cancer, make decisions about their care, communicate with their health care team and help guide them. The askMDAnderson teams are made up of specially-trained individuals who help people find answers to their questions about MD Anderson and clinicians to provide our patients support after they leave the hospital and clinic.
The teams include:
- Registered nurses and advanced practice providers
- Health information specialists
- Patient services operators
Psychosocial Concerns for Cancer Patients and Caregivers - How to Support Your Loved One
10-11 a.m.
Join via Zoom
Hannah Clark, Social Work counselor
This session will cover psychological concerns for cancer patients and caregivers. Get tips for how to support your loved one with cancer.
Just Breathe
11 a.m.-noon
Join via Zoom
Sharing excerpts from Gregory’s new project, Just Breathe, newly commissioned solo flute pieces by Juhi Bansal and Kinan Azmeh delve into the relationship between breath, sound, and the flute, alongside works by Bach, Zgraja and others.
Optimizing Your Health and Well-being with the “Mix of Six” Noon-1 p.m.
Join via Zoom
Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D., Richard E. Haynes, distinguished professor in Clinical Cancer Prevention and director of the Integrative Medicine Program
Alison Jefferies is a nationally board-certified wellness coach (NBHWC), author and educator
In a world flooded with health advice, do you find yourself longing for clear, basic steps to kick off your journey toward better health? In this interactive and dynamic presentation, Lorenzo Cohen and Alison Jefferies will share the latest scientific findings along with practical advice on effective ways to improve your health, reduce your risk of cancer, and improve outcomes for those with cancer. You will gain personalized insights you can use to develop your own action plan. It all starts with the simple choices you make every day.
Your Body and Mind After Cancer: Sex and Intimacy Post Diagnosis and Treatment
1-2 p.m.
Join via Zoom
Jillian Bissar, senior social worker
This session will explore common physical and psychological states that may impact sex and intimacy due to cancer.
Tuesday, June 3
Advance Directives
10-11:30 a.m.
Join via Zoom
Tatiana Fincham, senior social work counselor
Join this discussion about Advance Directives (Medical Power of Attorney, Directive to Physicians, i.e., Medical Living Will, Disposition of Remains and Texas Out of Hospital DNR). Each document will be reviewed, with a question and answer session at the end of the presentation. For more information about Advance Care Planning and Advance Directives, go to MDAnderson.org/ AdvanceCarePlanning.
Music-in-Medicine: The Art of Human Connection
12 p.m.
Mays Clinic, Floor 2, West Lobby
A Survivorship Week concert featuring Houston Symphony artists and live brain-computer interface mapping. Mei Rui, M.D., director of Music-in-Medicine, assistant professor of Neurosurgery and internationally acclaimed concert pianist, will be joined by Boson Mo, violin, and Jeremy Kreutz, cello, from the Houston Symphony in a chamber music concert honoring MD Anderson Cancer Center survivors and caregivers.
Brow Techniques for Any Stage of Hair Loss and Regrowth 1-1:30 p.m.
Join via Zoom
Jeanna Doyle and Rae Gibbons
Learn how to recreate natural-looking brows and lashes during periods of shedding or regrowth. Discover simple techniques that provide long-lasting results and the illusion of full, natural brows and lash line.
Skin Care Tips for Before, During and After Treatment
2-2:30 p.m.
Join via Zoom
Jeanna Doyle and Rae Gibbons
This course offers information on how to care for your skin before, during and after treatment and insights on sun protection, hydration and best practices.
Watercolors: Abstract Landscape
3-4:30 p.m.
Join via Zoom
Kasey Marsh, manager, Art Space for patients and caregivers, Volunteer Services and Merchandising
Join us for a guided watercolor activity and relax while watching colors flow into one another. Appropriate for all skill levels. No experience with art or painting is necessary. This is a perfect activity for anyone who’s ever thought watercolor painting is too difficult. If you’re unable to join our scheduled session, see the video tutorial here: https://youtu.be/pVTPd3TLP9U.
Wednesday, June 4
Preventing and Managing Caregiver Burnout
10-11 a.m.
Join via Zoom
Catherine Powers-James, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, Division of Cancer Medicine
A cancer diagnosis affects more than the patient - it touches everyone in their circle of care. In this session, Catherine Powers-James, Ph.D., will share practical strategies to recognize, prevent, and manage the emotional and physical toll of caregiving.
Resource Fair
11 a.m.-noon
Join via Zoom
Join us to learn more about the various resources available to patients, caregivers and survivors at MD Anderson. Participants will hear a brief overview of services and have a chance to speak one-on-one with representatives from each group in smaller breakout rooms.
Music-in-Medicine: The Art of Musical Healing
12 p.m.
Mays Clinic, Floor 2, West Lobby
A Survivorship Week recital featuring Chelsea de Souza, piano, with live brain-computer interface mapping, highlighting the powerful therapeutic impact on patient, caregiver, and provider wellness through an immersive live performance. Pre-concert talk by Mei Rui, M.D., assistant professor of Neurosurgery and director of Music-in-Medicine.
Fertility and Family Planning After Cancer Treatment
1-2 p.m.
Join via Zoom
Terri Woodard, M.D. associate professor, Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, Division of Surgery
Fertility is a concern for many cancer survivors. Many of the treatments that successfully treat cancer can cause infertility. There are several options that survivors have to help them grow their families after a cancer diagnosis. This talk will review how fertility is assessed after cancer treatment and the multiple strategies that can be used to achieve parenthood.
Watercolors: Tropical Branch
1:30-3 p.m.
Join via Zoom
Kasey Marsh, manager, Art Space for patients and caregivers, Volunteer Services and Merchandising
Join us for a guided watercolor activity and relax while watching colors take on a life of their own, flowing into one another. Appropriate for all skill levels, no experience with art or drawing is necessary. If you’re unable to join our scheduled session, see the video tutorial here: https://youtu.be/aa8tpCKBEc8.
Labyrinth
2:30-3:30 p.m.
Join via Zoom
The Labyrinth is viewed as a metaphor for life and offers lessons as we walk or trace the path. Walking or tracing the labyrinth can help us address challenges, meditate, and find peace and serenity. The path helps us become still and centered. Join us to experience this meditative practice.
Thursday, June 5
Mental Health After a Cancer Diagnosis
10-11 a.m.
Join via Zoom
Ida Ansah, social work counselor
Regardless of the type of cancer a person is diagnosed with, dealing with its emotional impact can persist well beyond the end of active treatments, resulting in a complicated mix of emotions. For individuals who graduate to survivorship, guilt frequently emerges as one of those feelings. Join us as we discuss the issues of mental health after cancer with tips on managing survivor’s guilt.
Lymphedema
11 a.m.-noon
Join via Zoom
Sarah DeSnyder, M.D., assistant professor, Breast Surgical Oncology
Join the discussion on medical and surgical management of lymphedema.
Can You Hear My Voice?
Noon-1 p.m.
Join via Zoom
Bill Brummel, cancer survivor and film director, shares his story and the experience he had making the film Can You Hear My Voice?, a film about the United Kingdom’s Shout at Cancer choir. The choir is compromised entirely of patients who have had their voice boxes removed. Brummel also had this procedure due to effects from his radiation treatment for head and neck cancer.
Brow Techniques for Any Stage of Hair Loss and Regrowth
1-1:30 p.m.
Join via Zoom
Jeanna Doyle and Rae Gibbons
Learn how to recreate natural-looking brows and lashes during periods of shedding or regrowth. Discover simple techniques that provide long-lasting results and the illusion of full, natural brows and lash line.
Skin Care Tips for Before, During and After Treatment
2-2:30 p.m.
Join via Zoom
Jeanna Doyle and Rae Gibbons
This course offers information on how to care for your skin before, during and after treatment and insights on sun protection, hydration and best practices.
Young Adult Arts & Crafts
6:30 p.m.
Register here.
Tap into your creative side with fun arts and crafts that vary each month. Registration is required at least 10 days prior to the activity so that supplies can be mailed at no cost to you by Dan’s House of Hope.
Virtual: Yes
Open to guests/caregivers: Yes
Friday, June 6
Caregiver Coffee
10:30 a.m.
Register here.
Sip your morning coffee and chat with other caregivers. Hosted by Dan’s House of Hope. Virtual: Yes
Open to caregivers only
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