About CAYAS
CAYAS is the Childhood, Adolescent and Young Adult Cancers & Survivorship Conference, now in its 5th year
Hosts
The CAYAS Conference is hosted by Childhood Cancer Ireland and CanTeen Ireland and is a wonderful opportunity to hear from those with a lived experience of childhood, adoelscent or young adult cancer, to network with colleagues and to learn about new developments and plans.
Delegates range from clinicians and healthcare providers to parents, researchers, survivors and other people involved in the childhood, adolescent and young adult cancer community community, both in Ireland and abroad.
2025 Programme Content
The full programme for CAYAS 25 will be available soon and will include:
- Updates on developments over the last year
- Facilitated workshops for young people and siblings age 14+
- Panel discussion
- Fireside chat
- Tailored content for parents, healthcare professionals and charities
- Opportunity to have your voice heard
- Exhibition stands
- Poster presentations
Morning Programme
Following registration and networking, our master of ceremonies Caroline Rooney, who is a Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner at the National Children’s Cancer Service in CHI at Crumlin, will introduce the conference and the outline for the day.
The morning session will include updates on research in education and survivorship and on public and patient involvement and engagement (PPIE). We will also be joined by a parent, young person and a survivor for a fireside chat, as they have an opportunity to share their experiences of cancer and explore the impact of adjustment throughout this experience, as well as identifying the supports that make it easier.
Young people, including siblings, will have an opportunity to attend an art workshop facilitated by internationally recognised artist Vincent Devine and advocate and childhood cancer survivor Aoife Moggan. No artistic ability needed for this session!
Before lunch, everyone will attend a round-table discussion on the theme of Building Connections, having a chance to have their voices heard and contribute to further breakdown of the theme in the afternoon.
Afternoon Programme
The afternoon will kick off with a panel discussion, exploring the insights shared in the round-table session held before lunch, drawing out the main themes and findings as part of a robust discussion on the value of connections and what’s lost, gained and missing throughout the experience of childhood, adolescent or young adult cancer.
We will then break into smaller groups for the rest of the afternoon, having a chance to discuss parenting, the role of communication in our work with families and young people in hospital and in the community and how young people can build movement into their day.
As always, there is something for everyone, whether you are a patient, parent, survivor, sibling, healthcare professional, education professional, allied healthcare professional, charity, researcher or anyone working with and supporting families impacted by childhood, adolescent and young adult cancer.
Registration
Registration is free and all who have been impacted by or are involved with childhood, adolescent and young adult cancer are welcome to attend. The conference and is aimed at ages 14+ approximately. If you have any questions please contact us at info@cayasireland.ie
While the conference is free to attend, please keep in mind that there is a cost to the organising charities. We ask that you are committed to attending the conference before you register.
Kindly supported by
We are grateful for the support of CHI at Crumlin and the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP), both of whom have recognised the value of this conference from the beginning and lend their expertise and support to ensure that the patient voice is heard and valued.