Life after a cancer diagnosis brings a new set of questions—and a powerful opportunity to take back control of your health and future. This session is designed to help you move beyond survival mode with practical, actionable guidance you can use right away. You’ll walk away with clear take-home pearls on how to communicate effectively with your care team, manage peri- and menopause symptoms after cancer, and understand prevention and risk-reducing strategies that fit your personal journey. We’ll also explore how to prepare for life after cancer—physically, emotionally, and mentally—so you can move forward feeling informed, supported, and empowered in what comes next.
Mercedes Casteil, MD, FRCSC, FACOG, MSCP, is a physician whose career has centered on cancer survivorship and patient advocacy.
She founded The Cancer Care Concierge on a simple belief: no one should face cancer alone. The boutique practice serves people of any age, with any diagnosis, at any point in the cancer journey. Dr. Casteil works alongside each client's chosen medical team, translating complicated information, flagging what's coming next, and staying reachable between appointments.
As Head of General Gynecology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, she built one of the first cancer survivorship programs in the United States. She has held academic appointments at MSKCC, at NYU Langone Health as Director of Women's Survivorship, and at the University of Chicago as Director of Women's Cancer Survivorship. She is certified in cancer risk genetics, and her research interests include menopause management and women's health.
Dr. Casteil earned her medical degree at the University of Toronto, where she also completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology. She has served on The Menopause Society's Education Committee and ASCO's Health Equity and Outcomes Committee, and continues to serve on ASCO's Survivorship Task Force. She was a Visionary of the Year candidate for the 2026 Blood Cancer United (formerly the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) campaign and received the United in Mission Award.