Healing Beyond the Diagnosis: Cancer, Mental Wellness, and Quality of Life
December 2nd @ 12pm EST
Outline of the Panel:
Cancer takes a significant emotional toll on patients and their loved ones during treatment and its aftermath. This expert panel will focus on understanding and addressing the mental health challenges that come with a cancer diagnosis, as well as strategies to foster resilience and emotional well-being.
What Will You Learn?
- The value of addressing mental wellness challenges at every stage of cancer treatment and recovery.
- Strategies to cope with anxiety, depression, and emotional distress.
- How mental health support can improve treatment outcomes and the quality of life for patients.
- Insights on navigating the long-term psychological effects of cancer and how survivors can continue to maintain mental wellness post-treatment.
- Why focusing on mental wellness is essential for both patients and caregivers.
This discussion will also cover new approaches to integrating mental health care into the cancer treatment process, addressing the psychosocial needs of patients, and promoting holistic care that looks beyond the physical aspects of the disease.
Who Should Attend?
This event is for cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and ANYONE interested in learning more about the critical role of mental health in cancer care.
Get to Know Your Panelists:
Dr. Marmarosh, Ph.D., CGP, ABPP, F-APA, F-AGPA
Dr. Cheri L. Marmarosh was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in 2016. Dr. Marmarosh is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at the George Washington University and has been there for 20 years where she has been studying how attachment relates to coping with oppression, ruptures and their repairs to the therapy alliance, and outcome in individual and group psychotherapy. She is a researcher at Divine Mercy University and developed the International Center for the Psychology of Spirituality and Mental Health. She is currently collaborating with researchers at McLean Hospital studying spirituality and mental health, collaborating with HealthTree on research on flourishing with incurable cancer, and she is also collaborating with doctors at Mass General on research that will facilitate the wellbeing of patients diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma.
Dr. Marmarosh is a licensed psychologist who has been practicing in D.C. for 27 years. She has published over 50 empirical and theoretical articles that focus on how group and individual psychotherapy facilitate change. Dr. Marmarosh is the lead author of two books, Attachment in Group Psychotherapy and Groups: Fostering a Culture of Change. She is the Editor of the book, Attachment in Group Psychotherapy, a monograph of manuscripts from the special edition the International Journal of Group Psychotherapy dedicated to attachment theory. She published a video applying attachment theory to group psychotherapy for the American Psychological Association’s (APA) psychotherapy series. She also developed a second video teaching the basics of group psychotherapy.
Dr. Marmarosh is the current editor for The International Journal of Group Psychotherapy. She is a Board Certified Psychologist (ABPP), and she is a Fellow of the American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA), Division 29 (Psychotherapy), and Division 49 (Group) of the APA. Dr. Marmarosh is certified group therapist, past president for Division 49, and the current Domain Representative for Training/Education for Division 29 (Psychotherapy). She was awarded the Group Psychologist of the Year in 2021 and the Teaching/Mentoring awards from Division 29 (2019) and 49 (2023). Dr. Marmarosh has a private practice in the DC area and works with individuals, couples, and groups.
Elizabeth (Betsy) O’Donnell, MD
“I am an Assistant Professor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Director of Early Detection and Prevention at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI). My career has focused on clinical trial development within the field of plasma cell disorders and is now focused on early detection and interception of cancer. One of my key contributions was the groundbreaking study on upfront dose modifications of lenalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone for newly diagnosed MM patients ineligible for stem cell transplant, published in the British Journal of Haematology. This study established the standard of care regimen known as RVD lite, impacting clinical trial designs for the older MM population and emphasizing successful treatment approaches for older, frail patients.
As a forward-thinker, I established the Lifestyle Medicine Program at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, addressing modifiable lifestyle risk factors. Board certified in Lifestyle Medicine and a certified Wellcoach©, I led a clinical trial on prolonged overnight fasting in breast cancer survivors, demonstrating feasibility and potential benefits. My commitment to lifestyle medicine extends to patient quality of life, psychological distress, and prognostic awareness in MM. Pioneering prospective studies on patients and caregivers, I revealed high levels of psychological distress across the disease continuum.
Building of these experiences, I spearheaded the establishment of a groundbreaking Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Program within the new Centers for Early Detection and Interception at Dana-Farber, driven by the imperative to revolutionize cancer diagnosis and treatment strategies. Leveraging my expertise in plasma cell disorders and cancer research, I recognized the need for a comprehensive approach to identify and address various cancers at their earliest stages. By assembling a multidisciplinary team of experts, we have cultivated a collaborative environment where groundbreaking MCED research intersects with clinical practice, fostering early intervention and personalized treatment plans. The Multi-Cancer Early Detection Program at Dana-Farber reflects a commitment to reshaping the landscape of cancer care, striving for timely diagnoses and improved outcomes across diverse malignancies.”
Daniel G Garza
Daniel G Garza has been a Patient Leader for over 20 years. He speaks publicly about HIV, Anal Cancer, and Mental Health. Daniel has shared his story through several campaigns, such as Positively Fearless, has worked with NMAC as a language justice consultant, and is a Patient Liaison with Radiant Health Centers. Through his company, Lilmesican Productions Inc., Daniel and his partner, Christian, produce live-stream content to add positive messages to the communities they represent. Daniel is also a certified Life Coach focused on Spirituality, an actor and a published author, his book “Grumpy Bunny and the Colors Game” is a guided meditation book for children.