Nursing and Allied Health Virtual Symposium

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The IGCS Nursing and Allied Health Virtual Symposium showcased comprehensive discussions on gynecological cancer survivorship, focusing on fertility, menopause, genetics, and multidisciplinary care. The event began with a poignant patient story by Sarah Griffin, who shared her cervical cancer diagnosis and fertility preservation journey through egg harvesting and surrogacy, emphasizing the critical role of timely fertility counseling and multidisciplinary support. Dr. David Crosby provided an in-depth review of fertility issues in gynecologic oncology, outlining ovarian reserve assessment, impacts of cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy on fertility, and the restrictive surrogacy criteria in Ireland.<br /><br />Menopause care was addressed by Dr. Gregory Otten, who highlighted the prevalence and severity of menopausal symptoms post-treatment, associated long-term health risks, and the importance of individualized hormone therapy and multidisciplinary support including nursing, dietetics, and psychological services. Andreas Fernandes presented nurse-led menopause research, emphasizing women's diverse experiences, barriers to care, and the effectiveness of nurse-led interventions in improving knowledge and symptom management, while calling for expanded education and service models.<br /><br />Donna Chakrabarty outlined the evolving role of nurses in genetic services amid advances in genomics, mainstreaming pathways, and the importance of multidisciplinary team involvement in hereditary cancer risk assessment and counseling.<br /><br />A multidisciplinary panel discussed a complex cervical cancer case, demonstrating collaborative roles: nurses offering holistic support and coordination; nurse practitioners and physician assistants managing follow-up, symptom control, and navigation; social workers addressing psychosocial and financial needs; and physicians leading diagnosis, treatment decision-making, and systemic advocacy. The symposium underscored the essential integration of nursing and allied health professionals within multidisciplinary teams to improve patient-centered gynecologic oncology care.

Keywords

IGCS Nursing and Allied Health Virtual Symposium

gynecological cancer survivorship

fertility preservation

menopause care

genetics in oncology

multidisciplinary care

patient fertility counseling

ovarian reserve assessment

cancer treatment fertility impact

surrogacy criteria Ireland

menopausal symptom management

hormone therapy

nurse-led menopause research

genetic services nursing role

multidisciplinary team gynecologic oncology