2023 Parenting with Cancer Webinar Series
Understanding Hereditary Cancers and Your Family
Date: Tuesday, October 3
Time: 10am PST/12CST/1EST
Speaker: Dr. Sue Friedman, FORCE Founder and Executive Director
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Description: If you have hereditary cancer and are a parent, there may be a million questions swimming around in your head. How do I share this information with my kids and when? When should my kids get genetic counseling? Do other members of my family need to know? Join us to dig deep into all things hereditary cancer, kids, and parenting. This webinar will discuss cancers identified as having a hereditary component, genetic counseling and testing, national guidelines for testing, when it’s appropriate to test children, how to share genetic information with family members and why that is important... and more! While this presentation is aimed at parents navigating a hereditary cancer, it will also be appropriate for previvors with children, as well as previvors and survivors diagnosed before becoming parents. There will be plenty of time for questions!
Bio: Dr. Sue Friedman was practicing small animal medicine in south Florida in 1996 when she was diagnosed "out of the blue" at age 33 with breast cancer. At the time, she was unaware of familial risk factors for hereditary cancer. Reading an article about hereditary breast cancer after completing her treatment, Sue realized that she had several indications for a mutation. She pursued genetic counseling and, in 1997, tested positive for a BRCA2 mutation.
Shocked that her health care team didn't alert her to the possibility of being at high risk, and disappointed at having to make critical treatment decisions while unaware of her mutation, Sue acted so others could benefit from her misfortune. She founded FORCE in 1999 to fill the information void for individuals and families with hereditary cancer and to help them advocate for themselves. After five years as the organization's executive director (while maintaining her own busy practice), Sue left veterinary medicine to direct FORCE full-time. Since then, the organization has become an unequaled source of research, advocacy, support, and information regarding risk management, prevention, and awareness.
In 2004, Sue relocated her husband Dan, son Beau, and FORCE headquarters to Tampa to work more closely with researchers to improve medical options, care, and outcomes for people affected by hereditary cancer. She is a 20-year breast cancer survivor. Sue is co-author of the book Confronting Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer, which was published by Johns Hopkins Press, February 2012.
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Supporting Neurodivergent Children Through a Parent’s Cancer
Date: Thursday, October 12
Time: 10am PST/12CST/1EST
Speaker: Erin Thomson, LCSW and Senior Clinical Social Worker at University of Wisconsin - Madison, Waisman Center University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
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Description: We know kids process information and feelings differently. Neurodivergent children or children with autism benefit from unique approaches and resources when a parent has cancer. Adding your own (or your partner's) cancer diagnosis to the mix can be tricky for even the most seasoned of parents. This is an opportunity to talk about strategies for talking with your autistic and/or neurodivergent child about your cancer diagnosis and treatment. We'll share some ideas and tools for starting the conversation and supporting you and your child as it evolves over time. There will be plenty of time to talk through your questions and stumbling blocks, as well as any successes you've had along the way.
Bio: Erin Thomson, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker who has served children and families for over 20 years. Erin currently works for the Waisman Center, a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, where she is a social worker in the Autism & Developmental Disabilities Clinic and Autism Treatment Program. She is committed to supporting families in understanding their child's diagnosis and meeting the needs of the entire family. Outside of work, Erin is a mom to two kiddos aged 6 and 4 who love to explore the many playgrounds in the Madison area.
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Sex After Cancer: Maintaining Intimacy and Connection for Couples
Date: Wednesday October 18th
Time: 11am PST/1pmCST/3EST
Speaker: Lauren Broschak, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, Survivorship Program Manager, Inova Life with Cancer
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Description Sexuality and intimacy are vital, rich, and pleasurable parts of life, and maintaining intimacy and connection for couples after a cancer diagnosis can be challenging. This can be especially when also balancing parenting and family responsibilities. Join us as we have a frank and honest conversation about maintaining intimacy and connection after a cancer diagnosis, and provide accurate information to help support a safe, healthy, and pleasurable approach to sex and intimacy.
Bio: Lauren Broschak is an oncology-certified Licensed Clinical Social Worker, specializing in young adults, sexuality, and cancer. She received her Master’s degree in social work from the University of Michigan, as well as certificates in sex therapy and sexuality education from the University of Michigan’s Sexual Health Certificate Program. Lauren works as the Survivorship Program Manager at Inova Life with Cancer in Northern Virginia where she leads an interdisciplinary team which developed and launched a Survivorship Clinic and survivorship programming at Inova Schar Cancer Institute. In addition to her survivorship programmatic work, Lauren offers individual counseling, facilitates support groups, and instructs educational classes for those touched by cancer. She is a co-author of the chapter Intimacy and Sexuality Needs of Children and Adolescents at the End of Life in the book Intimacy and Sexuality During Illness and Loss, published by Hospice Foundation of America in 2020. Lauren serves on the Board of Directors for After Cancer, and is a Co-Chair for the Association of Oncology Social Work’s Adolescent and Young Adult Special Interest Group.
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Let Them Be Curious: Empowering Kids with Medical Play
Date: Oct 26, 2023
Time: 10am PST/12CST/1EST
Speaker: Carissa Menard, MS, CCLS, Operations Manager and Certified Child Life Specialist at Hearts Connected LLC
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Description: This webinar will cover what medical play is and why it is important for kids to participate, especially when they are exposed to frequent medical experiences themselves or within the home. A Child life specialist, Carissa Menard, will be sharing ways you as a parent can introduce and engage your child in medical play to decrease their misconceptions and fears surrounding your medical experience, and healthcare experiences in general. Through a discussion and demonstration of medical play, parents and guardians will leave with a greater understanding of appropriate language to use and techniques to facilitate assessment and discussion of your child's emotions and understanding. For any parent who is unsure about how much to share with their child or curious to learn new ways to empower and educate their child about their current medical experience utilizing play, this webinar is for you! Carissa will also take time to do a live Q&A for parents and caregivers with specific questions or concerns.
Bio: Carissa has been a Certified Child Life Specialist for 7 years and worked at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego for the majority of her career. She specialized in supporting rehabilitation patients, most often being treated for a spinal cord injury, brain injury, or brain tumor, throughout their lengthy hospitalization and their school and community re-entry. Carissa also has extensive experience working with patients on the respiratory/pulmonary unit, medical surgical units, and intensive care unit. Carissa is passionate about supporting and advocating for children and teens throughout life's many difficult challenges and building upon an individual's resilience. Carissa completed her Bachelors of Science in Psychology and Minor in Child Development at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. Carissa also earned her Masters of Science in Child Life Specialist from Loma Linda University. Throughout her graduate career, Carissa worked as the Bereavement and Community Educator's assistant, planning and facilitating grief camps for children, and developing grief resources and programming. Carissa now works for Hearts Connected as their Operations Manager, supporting children and families nationwide through virtual child life services.