Conference Programme
CAYAS 2025 Conference
The 2025 CAYAS conference returns for its fifth year this October on Saturday, 11th October in Croke Park in Dublin. Hosted by Childhood Cancer Ireland and CanTeen Ireland, the Childhood, Adolescent, Young Adult Cancers & Survivorship Conference (CAYAS) highlights the lived experience of parents, families, patients, and survivors by providing them with a platform to collaborate and connect with medical experts, health care researchers, and others.
CAYAS 2025 Programme
Morning Programme
| Time | Content | Speaker / Facilitator |
|---|---|---|
| 9.00 | Registration & Networking | |
| Welcome address | Laura Cullinan | |
| 10.00 | Dissemination session | Caroline Rooney |
| Presentation 1: TBC | TBC | |
| Presentation 2: TBC | TBC | |
| Improving Education for Children and Young People with Cancer: An International Collaboration | Dr Margaret Flood | |
| Life After Childhood Leukaemia | Avril Deegan | |
| 10.50 | Fireside Chat Q+A | TBC |
| Parallel Workshop | ||
| 10.05 | Doodle Your Way: an art workshop for young people and siblings | Vincent Devine & Aoife Moggan |
| 11.30 | Coffee Break | |
| 12.00 | Round Table Session: Exploring Building and Maintaining Connections | Caroline Rooney |
| 13.00 | Lunch | |
Presentation 1
Presentation TBC
Presentation 2
Presentation TBC
Improving Education for Children and Young People with Cancer: An International Collaboration
Presenter: Dr Margaret Flood, Assistant Professor in Inclusive Education at Maynooth University
Dr Margaret Flood (Maynooth University) introduces a new project, which aims to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of children, adolescents and young adults during and after cancer treatment.
Through its partnership with Kennedy Kreiger Institute and Johns Hopkins University in the US, this two-year project will compare international experiences to identify shared barriers and solutions.
Through focus groups, surveys and collaborative workshops, the team will design “roadmaps” – clear, practical guides to help families and schools navigate the return to education. They will also work towards establishing an educational support service for children with cancer in Ireland. This project is proudly supported by Childhood Cancer Ireland.
Life after Childhood Leukaemia
Presenter: Avril Deegan
While successful completion of treatment for childhood leukemia is a major milestone, it does not necessarily signal the end of challenges for children and their parents. Adjusting to post-treatment life requires resilience, with social support playing a key role in shaping quality of life. However, despite the importance of these factors, research on children’s and parents’ lived experience in this context remains limited. This study seeks to explore how children and their parents experience social support, resilience, and quality of life following successful leukaemia treatment.
The findings highlight the emotional, psychological, and social complexities children and parents face during the post-treatment phase, emphasising the ongoing need for structured psychosocial support even after treatment ends. While social support contributes to resilience, the study emphasises the necessity for structured and targeted interventions to address lingering challenges and improve long-term quality of life for children and parents. Such interventions are essential for helping children and parents manage emotional distress, develop effective coping strategies, and ultimately improve their long-term quality of life.
Fireside Chat:
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This fireside chat will see parents, young people and survivors share their experiences of cancer and explore the impact of adjustment throughout this experience, as well as identifying the supports that make it easier.
Doodle Your Way: an art workshop for young people and siblings
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Come as you are—no experience needed. In this relaxed workshop, artist Vincent Devine invites you to reconnect with your imagination through spontaneous doodling, storytelling, and visual play. Whether you’re a seasoned sketcher or picking up a pencil for the first time in years, this space is about freedom, not perfection. Through guided prompts and open exploration, participants will use doodling as a way to reflect, connect, and create something that’s uniquely theirs. Materials provided—just bring yourself.
Round Table Discussion
Led by: Caroline Rooney
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
| Time | Content | Speaker / Facilitator |
|---|---|---|
| 14.00 | Welcome back | Caroline Rooney |
| 13.58 | Remembrance | |
| 14.00 | Panel Discussion | Chair: Dorothy Thomas, NCCP |
| 14.45 | Connection Sessions (choose 1) | |
| Staying anchored as a parent | Dr Mairead Brennan | |
| Exercise and movement: for young people | Survivors Sarah O’Neill and Karl Corcoran with Sinead O’Driscoll, physiotherapist, CHI at Crumlin | |
| Valuing Your Health and Wellbeing | TBC | |
| 15.50 | Closing remarks | Evelyn Griffith |
| 16.00 | ENDS |
Panel Discussion: The value and impact of connections
Chair: Dorothy Thomas, Patient Engagement Manager, National Cancer Control Programme
- Damian Hillan, Senior Medical Social Worker, Haematology & Oncology, CHI at Crumlin
- Dr Sarah Curry, Paediatric Oncologist at CHI at Crumlin
- Siobhan MacSweeney, Client Services Coordinator, Recovery Haven in Kerry
- Dr Mairead Brennan, Principal Clinical Psychologist, Childhood Cancer Ireland
- Parent : TBC
- Young Person : TBC
The panel will explore 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.
Connection Session: staying anchored as a parent
Maintaining and building relationships during and after childhood cancerwith Dr Mairead Brennan
– 1 hr 10 mins
Relationships within your circle of family, friends and community can be impacted during and after treatment. There may be surprises with who was supportive, as well as disappointments with who fell away. At the same time, you are negotiating relationships with your child’s medical team, as well as changes with your relationship with your partner and children, or navigating all of this as a single parent.
This session is for parents of children / young people who are in treatment or finished treatment, even if your child finished treatment many years ago. In this session, we will identify and normalise these experiences and share strategies to help re-build or stay connected.
Connection Session: Exercise and movement (for young people and siblings)
Sarah O’Neill, adolescent cancer survivor and personal trainer
Karl Corcoran, young adult cancer survivor, online coach and ExWell employee
Sinead O’Driscoll, Senior Physiotherapist, Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, CHI at Crumlin
This session is co-facilitated by Sarah and Karl, who both had cancer as young adults and by Sinéad O’Driscoll, a physiotherapist from CHI at Crumlin.
Both Sarah and Karl are passionate about the positive impacts of exercise and movement, but they also have first-hand experience of challenges like cancer-related fatigue and other side effects from treatment.
Alongside Sarah, Karl, physiotherapist Sinead and occupational therapist X, you will have a chance to explore the benefits of movement and physical activity in your everyday life and the positive impacts on your body and mind.
You will also have an opportunity to chat to other young people about the challenges of building movement into your day, to share what works for you and to find the right level of movement for YOU in YOUR life at the moment.
Valuing Your Health and Wellbeing
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This session will be of interest to healthcare workers, charities supporting young people and families, researchers education professionals and others working with or on behalf of young people, siblings, survivors and their families.
Speaker / Facilitator Bios
Dr Margaret Flood
Assistant Professor in Inclusive Education at Maynooth University
Dr Margaret Flood is an Assistant Professor in Inclusive Education at Maynooth University and Academic Advisor for the Maynooth Access Programme. With a background in teaching, curriculum and policy development, and teacher professional learning, Margaret is passionate about Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and inclusive education. As a Fulbright Scholar, she collaborated with CAST and Boston College on UDL Guidelines 3.0. A former Education Officer at the NCCA, Margaret has led national inclusive curriculum initiatives. All of this has informed her thinking around creating inclusive spaces for children returning to school with or after treatment for complex health conditions, such as cancer. Margaret also hosts the podcast Talking about all things Inclusion.
Avril Deegan
Childhood cancer researcher
My name is Avril Deegan. I am 26 years old and I live in lovely Laois. I am a childhood cancer researcher in the School of Psychology in Dublin City University and I am an Irish Research Council and Breakthrough Cancer Research funded researcher. I am also a DCU sports scholarship athlete and I have represented Ireland internationally in athletics. Last but not least, I am a childhood leukaemia survivor.
Dr Mairead Brennan
Director of Psychosocial Services, Childhood Cancer Ireland
Dr Mairead Brennan, Principal Clinical Psychologist has 10 years of experience of working within Psycho-Oncology services across children, adolescents, young adults and adults. She completed her Clinical Doctorate training in University of Galway in 2015.
Mairead worked in Cancer Care West in Galway for eight years, during which time she developed a hospital-based service within the Galway Clinic and a community-based family service within Cancer Care West.
Since 2023, Mairead has developed and co-facilitated a one-day Psychoeducational Workshop for Parents following their child’s cancer treatment with Childhood Cancer Ireland.
Dr Sarah Curry
Consultant Paediatric Oncologist, Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin
Currently a dedicated consultant paediatric oncologist, with subspecialty expertise in neuro-oncology, practicing at The National Children’s Cancer Service (NCCS); Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin. Sarah prides herself in delivering comprehensive family-based care for patients with a wide range of cancers, in both the acute and ambulatory setting, in addition to providing specialist advice for paediatric teams throughout the Republic of Ireland.
Sarah’s Irish training, in addition to two specialty fellowships at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, and UK consultant experience prepared her optimally for this role.
Sarah is a patient focused oncologist adept at managing children and young adults with all types of cancer in the diagnostic, treatment, surveillance, follow up, survivorship and sometimes, palliative phase of care. Although she is passionate about treating all of her patients, treating children with brain and spinal tumours holds a particular motivation. The often-permanent devastating effects of brain tumours and their directed therapies for children mandate meticulous, evidence based, risk stratified treatment selection. Each patient’s management requires fastidious planning; considering core treatment principles, clinical situation, ethical considerations, and family values.
Sarah believes that it is her privilege to be in a position to try to help families navigate through the exceptionally difficult circumstances from receiving a cancer diagnosis onwards. She takes particular satisfaction in getting to know her patients and their families; it is these relationships that make the good days shine and the bad durable.
Vincent Devine
Artist
Vincent Devine is an Irish artist based in Co.Offaly, Ireland. He learned to draw at the age of 4 and paint at the age of 9. He studied at The Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest and has an Honours Degree in Visual Communications.
Devine’s work is in public and private collections internationally and he has exhibited in Hong Kong, Toronto, Miami and extensively in the UK and Ireland. His work has featured in many publications including The Irish Times, The Sunday Business Post and the Irish Independent.
His record-breaking portrait of female health campaigner Vicky Phelan garnered national coverage including a feature on RTE News and Nationwide. In 2023 his work expanded into cancer research, where he was invited to work with University College Dublin to depict the intricate layers of cancer. While working closely with cancer researchers and patient advocates Devine has developed groundbreaking paintings which through public engagement events are helping to communicate complex subjects to increase awareness and improve public engagement with the sciences.
Aoife Moggan
Childhood cancer survivor and advocate and curator of the CAYAS art exhibition
Aoife is a podcast enthusiast and boxset binger. She is happiest when people watching, exploring new places, being creative and catching up with friends and family over endless cups of tea. Aoife was diagnosed with a spinal Astrocytoma at 13 and has been on the complicated, difficult and privileged road that is illness and survivorship for the last 25 years. A journey that she believes, along with her psychology degree, has put her in good stead to become a patient advocate – a role that Aoife is very proud to hold for Childhood Cancer Ireland.
Sarah O’Neill
Adolescent cancer survivor
At 17, Sarah was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and underwent chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. That experience shaped so much of who she is today. Exercise has always been a huge part of Sarah’s life, and it’s what carried her through treatment and recovery.
Sarah went on to earn a BSc in Health and Society from DCU and has built her career around helping others look after themselves through movement and healthy living. She is passionate about supporting people in taking control of their health—physically and mentally—especially when facing the long-term effects of cancer treatment.
Sinéad O’Driscoll
Senior physiotherapist, CHI at Crumlin
Sinéad O’Driscoll is a senior physiotherapist working in paediatric haematology and oncology in CHI at Crumlin. She graduated with a BSc in Physiotherapy from University College Dublin in 2020.
Karl Corcoran:
Young adult cancer survivor, online coach and ExWell staff member
CAYAS 2025 Programme Committee
We are very grateful for the time and expertise of our programme committee, who have supported the development of this year’s programme and lent their time generously. Our programme committee is comprised of a mix of clinicians, parents and survivors, helping to ensure that our content is varied, with the patient voice always at the centre.
Laura Cullinan
CEO of Childhood Cancer Ireland and parent of a survivor
Laura joined the Board of Childhood Cancer Ireland in 2014, after her daughter Isobel was diagnosed with cancer at only 21 months old. Laura played a committed role on the Board of Directors for almost seven years, before becoming the first CEO of the charity in late 2022.
Having experienced a child’s diagnosis, treatment and the long-term effects first hand, Laura is passionate about supporting families and survivors at all stages and to establishing and delivering programmes that will ensure the long-term wellbeing of families and survivors. She believes that increased public awareness of childhood cancer will ultimately lead to more funding and research, early diagnosis, improved survival rates and fewer side effects from treatment. Laura has a background in financial services.
Evelyn Griffith
Manager of CanTeen Ireland
Evelyn is qualified as a nurse (RGN) in 1997 and worked on the oncology ward in the Mater Hospital for over 18 months before travelling to Australia for a year. She started working with CanTeen in May 2001 and has been working with young people with cancer for over 20 years. Evelyn has also trained in holistic therapies – holistic massage, reflexology and Indian head massage and in 2014 received her BSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy from PCI College & Middlesex University, working as a psychotherapist on a part-time basis.
Patricia McColgan
Voluntary Director of Childhood Cancer Ireland and parent of a survivor
Patricia’s son Rory was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2008. After the completion of his treatment, it became clear that there were no follow-up supports in place to help survivors enjoy the best possible quality of life and to address the late effects of treatment. Patricia co-founded CanCare4Living with fellow parent Garry Owens, to advocate for survivors of childhood, adolescent and young adult cancer. She is passionate about the power of collaboration and keeping the voice of those with lived experience central to any discussion about them.
CanCare4Living merged with Childhood Cancer Foundation Ireland in August 2022 and Patricia continues that work now under the charity’s new name of Childhood Cancer Ireland.
Lucy Cronly
Parent of a survivor and parent peer supporter with Childhood Cancer Ireland
Lucy is married to Nigel and is the mother of three sons – Liam, Eoin and Niall.
Eoin was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Lymphoma in 2013. Eoin is now 22, having been diagnosed when he was 11 and experiencing, as he would say, every rare complication you could conjure up!
Lucy was with him throughout and has trained as a parent peer supporter with Childhood Cancer Ireland to be able to offer support to other parents and is a huge advocate for sharing information and empathy.
Sarah O’Neill
Adolescent cancer survivor
At 17, Sarah was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and underwent chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. That experience shaped so much of who she is today. Exercise has always been a huge part of Sarah’s life, and it’s what carried her through treatment and recovery.
Sarah went on to earn a BSc in Health and Society from DCU and has built her career around helping others look after themselves through movement and healthy living. She is passionate about supporting people in taking control of their health—physically and mentally—especially when facing the long-term effects of cancer treatment.
Professor Michael Capra
Consultant Paediatric Oncologist, CHI at Crumlin
Michael Capra graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa in 1987, following which he completed his postgraduate paediatric and specialist paediatric oncology training in the United Kingdom.
He obtained his Masters in Medical Education in 2000 prior to commencing his Paediatric Haematology/Oncology Fellowship in The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto in 2001. He was appointed on staff at the same institution in 2003, a post he held until 2006, when he relocated to Dublin to take up a Paediatric Oncology Consultant post in CHI at Crumlin.
Michael is a Clinical Professor of Trinity College Dublin, a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) and a member of multiple collaborative childhood cancer organisations, including the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) and the Children’s Oncology Group (COG).
Nessa Mullin
Clinical Nurse Specialist at the National Children’s Cancer Service, CHI at Crumlin
Nessa is from Galway and qualified as a nurse in NUIG in 2012. She has worked in London and Sydney before returning to work on St John’s Ward in 2018. Nessa is an oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist since 2021 and has a keen interest in holistic care for her patients and parents.
Caroline Rooney
Advanced Nurse Practitioner, CHI at Crumlin
Caroline Rooney is a Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner working within the Haematology Oncology Day Unit of the National Children’s Cancer Services (NCCS) based at CHI at Crumlin. Caroline has worked within the NCCS for 25 years within a variety of nursing roles. Caroline qualified in children’s nursing in 1998 from Queens University Belfast and has completed post graduate studies in UCD, RCSI and Coventry University, including a Master of Science in Advanced Practice (Nursing) from University College Dublin.
Caroline’s current role involves providing a complete episode of care independently, incorporating clinical practice, leadership, management, education and research for paediatric patients with a haemato-oncology diagnosis who are undergoing treatment and their families.
Special areas of interests include fertility preservation, adolescent health and ambulatory hydration.
Ruth McMenamin
Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Programme Manager, CHI at Crumlin
Ruth McMenamin is the Adolescent and Young Adult Programme Manager, based at CHI at Crumlin, since October 2022. Ruth previously worked as a physiotherapist in the oncology, haematology and breast care service at St James Hospital and has completed a Masters in Cancer Survivorship from Trinity College Dublin.
Vivienne Hand
Health and Social Care Professions Director for Children's Health Ireland
Vivienne is the Health and Social Care Professions Director for Children’s Health Ireland, bringing a wealth of experience in healthcare leadership and clinical practice. With a background in occupational therapy, Vivienne worked internationally in both the U.S and Ireland, gaining insights into patient care and interdisciplinary collaboration. She spent many years as a manager in CHI at Crumlin, where she led a team with a strong focus on service development and innovation.
Vivienne holds a Masters in Healthcare Leadership and a Diploma in Executive and Leadership and Coaching, combining strategic vision with a commitment to empowering professionals across the health and social care spectrum. Her leadership is marked by a deep understanding of clinical practice, a passion for mentoring and a dedication to driving excellence in care for children and families.
Niya Mateeva
National Project Manager for Survivorship and Psycho-Oncology at the National Cancer Control Programme
Niya’s role drives implementation of key recommendations in the Irish National Cancer Strategy, supports and steers the work of the Psycho-Oncology programme and works towards cancer survivorship nationally for cancer patients and their families.
Niya has an academic background in psychology, completing a Psychology degree in Trinity College Dublin. She is committed to improving patient care and believes this can be best achieved through collaboration and co-operation across sectors and disciplines. Niya collaborates nationally with many stakeholders including patients, healthcare professionals and voluntary agencies to develop and improve the provision of Psycho-Oncology and survivorship care in Ireland.
Building Connections
This year, the theme of the conference is Building Connections.
A diagnosis of childhood, adolescent or young adult cancer brings so much change to a family. Relationships with people and places are altered, both during and after treatment. Connections with work, school, and friends may be lost, just as new relationships with the medical team and other parents or young people are gained.
While these changes in our relationships may not be permanent, the ongoing adjustments for patients, parents and siblings are challenging nonetheless.
Throughout all of this change there is one constant – the family. Through our theme of Building Connections, we will explore the supports that families need during and after treatment.
Every family does not look the same and needs will vary but the theme of connection is universal.
We will hear directly from patients, parents and survivors as we explore the scaffolding that is, or should be, built around families to support them throughout their cancer experience.
Register Now
The CAYAS conference is aimed at anyone who has been impacted by childhood, adolescent and young adult cancer and anyone who is working in the area or has a research interest in this topic.
Content and workshops on the day are aimed at:
- Parents
- Young people (age 14+ approx) currently in treatment or who are survivors of childhood cancer
- Siblings (age 14+ approx)
- Anyone involved in caring for families impacted by childhood, adolescent and young adult cancer or those researching the field
- Charities and other organisations supporting families
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
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.