Cancer survivor Alex was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in early 2023 after discovering a lump in her neck. Her physician, Craig H. Moskowitz, M.D., who is director of Academic Clinician Development at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of UHealth – University of Miami Health System and the Miller School of Medicine, discussed treatment options with her. They decided on an immunotherapy clinical trial. Although the immunotherapy did not work for her, Alex remains supportive of research participation.
“I think everyone should participate in research,” she said. “If a clinical trial opens up and you’re a candidate, I recommend it — you can help others and might benefit with fewer side effects.”
Alex has since achieved complete remission following other treatments.
Research into cancer survivorship has expanded since the 1980s and 1990s. This growth has shown that survivors may experience mental, physical, psychosocial, and financial side effects long after treatment ends. Such findings have been possible due to cancer survivors and their families taking part in research studies.
There are different types of cancer studies: clinical trials test how well a medical approach works, while observational studies track health outcomes based on current behaviors or lifestyle without intervention. Quality-of-life studies can be part of either category.
“Research participation is critical for survivors because, as more survivors live longer, survivorship research is now focusing on long-term physical and social effects,” said Sara St. George, Ph.D., associate professor of public health sciences at the Miller School. “That’s where quality of life fits in. I conduct behavioral trials, assigning behavioral interventions to survivors and measuring the impact. Quality of life is just one of many outcomes we examine.”
Every participant in cancer research helps advance new treatments and care that benefit people worldwide.
Scientists hope each participant will benefit from a study; however, even unsuccessful outcomes provide important information that contributes to future progress.
“Research participation gives survivors a chance to give back to future patients,” Dr. St. George said. “It ensures their needs and perspectives are represented in research, which helps future survivors. I’m very grateful for their involvement.”
For those not wishing to participate directly in studies, educational events also offer ways to contribute to advances in survivorship care and research.
Since 2022, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center has organized the Sylvester Cancer Survivorship Symposium annually at the Ritz-Carlton in Coconut Grove, Florida. The upcoming fourth event will take place October 29-30, 2025; this year’s program will last two days for the first time so all attendees can join both research-focused sessions and supportive care discussions.
“The survivorship symposium is unique in being open to the community,” Dr. St. George said about past events at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. “Last time, survivors and community members approached me to learn more — they loved that everyone could share ideas in one space.”
On October 30th during this year’s symposium Dr. St. George will present initial results from a new pilot study called “Con Cariño, Abuela” (With Love, Grandma), which tests a digital lifestyle intervention designed for Hispanic cancer survivors along with their adult daughters or daughters-in-law; its aim is to encourage healthy behaviors among families.
