Philadelphia to Host Conference for Women Living With Metastatic Breast Cancer

Media Contact: Rachel Pinkstone-Marx | (484) 708-1809 | rmarx@lbbc.org

HAVERFORD, Pa., March 27, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) has announced it will host its annual conference for women with metastatic breast cancer at the Loews Hotel in Philadelphia on Saturday, April 28 and Sunday, April 29, 2012. This event, now entering its sixth year promoting the theme Enhancing Your Health and Quality of Life, is designed to address the unique challenges faced by women diagnosed with metastatic disease, their families and their caregivers. Breast cancer is considered metastatic (often referred to as Stage IV) when it spreads from the breast to other parts of the body, such as the lungs, bones, liver or brain.

Women living with metastatic disease face ongoing decisions depending on chosen treatment plans. Approximately 151,600 women in the United States are currently living with metastatic breast cancer and this number is projected to increase to over 164,000 by the year 2015.1

Attendees from across the country will join together for this two-day event featuring a variety of workshops that focus exclusively on the specific needs of women living with this type of cancer. The program includes topics such as ways to manage stress and anxiety, triple-negative breast cancer, end-of-life care, and intimacy and sexuality. Workshops for caregivers will also be conducted. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions about research, treatment and quality-of-life concerns to an expert panel composed of the nation's top healthcare providers with a special interest in metastatic disease. Additionally, attendees are given the chance to meet, connect and network with hundreds of women facing the same choices and challenges. "Women living with metastatic breast cancer need targeted information that will help them make informed decisions and improve their quality of life," said Jean A. Sachs, MSS, MLSP, chief executive officer of Living Beyond Breast Cancer. "It is easier to find resources for early stage disease. LBBC is committed to meeting the needs of women facing metastatic breast cancer by producing this national conference."

Travel grants and fee waivers for financial hardship, generously provided by Susan G. Komen for the Cure, are available to eligible individuals. The conference is presented by Celgene Corporation and Eisai Oncology. To register or for more information, visit lbbc.org or call Living Beyond Breast Cancer at (610) 645-4567.

Additional resources can be found through LBBC's Understanding Guides: Metastatic Breast Cancer Series. Titles include: Treatment Options for Today and Tomorrow, Managing Stress and Anxiety, Symptoms and Treatment Side Effects and Understanding Palliative Care. Later this year, LBBC will produce a guide for women newly diagnosed with advanced disease.

Anyone interested in attending the conference can register online at lbbc.org or call (610) 645-4573.

Annual Conference for Women with Metastatic Breast Cancer Panelists

Adam M. Brufksy, MD, PhD is director of academic medical oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Centers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and an associate professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Brufsky also serves as director of the Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center at Magee-Womens Hospital/University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and as associate division chief of the division of hematology/oncology of the department of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. This year, Dr. Brufsky is serving as moderator as well as a panelist.

Helen L. Coons,* PhD, ABPP is the President and Clinical Director of Women's Mental Health Associates, Philadelphia. Dr. Coons is a Clinical Psychologist and board certified Clinical Health Psychologist who specializes in women's health and mental health. She is also a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Drexel University College of Medicine, and is Adjunct Faculty, Department of Psychiatry, Pennsylvania Hospital, University of Pennsylvania Health System. Dr. Coons received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Temple University in 1990 after interning in Medical Psychology at the Duke University Medical Center. In 2005, she represented the American Psychological Association at the DHHS Primary Health Care Policy Fellowship.

Julie R. Gralow, MD is a professor of medical oncology at the University of Washington School of Medicine and an associate member of the clinical research division for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. She is director of breast medical oncology at UWSOM and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, serves as associate program head for the UW/FHCRC Consortium Breast Cancer Program, and is a member of the FHCRC Scientific Steering Committee.

Harold A. Harvey,* MD is a professor of medicine at the Milton S. Hersey Medical Center at Pennsylvania University and board certified with an oncology subspecialty through the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Harvey participates in numerous committees as a member of the American Society for Clinical Oncology and was on the Board of Examiners for the American Board of Internal Medicine for Medical Oncology.

Beth Overmoyer MD, FACP is director of the Breast Cancer Research Program through Case Medical School, and has obtained funding for clinical/translational research from the NIH, AVON, and the American Cancer Society. Dr. Overmoyer was the director of the Clinical Trials Core at Case Medical School, and focuses her academic endeavors on therapies for breast cancer, specifically directing research in inflammatory breast cancer as the Director of the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Program at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

Debra Wolf,* Esq specializes in Disability Law and has represented clients in various issues including discrimination, disability leave, insurance matters, estate planning and employment accommodations. Debra currently works for LegalHealth, a division of the New York Legal Assistance Group. LegalHealth provides free legal services to patients within the medical setting and educates healthcare professionals to better address their patients' needs where she works primarily with clients with cancer.

Closing Speaker

Don S. Dizon, MD, FACP is board-certified in medical oncology and has received special training in sexual education from the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. Dr. Dizon is involved nationally as the co-chair of the Integrated Media and Technology committee of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and is a member of the program committees for the annual meetings of ASCO, the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO), the National Consortium of Breast Centers (NCBC), and the International Gynecologic Cancer Society. He currently serves as the immediate past president at the NCBC and a member of the Breast Task Force for SGO.

Reference1. Data on File. 1006812. AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP. Wilmington, DE.

*Dr. Coons, Dr. Harvey and Ms. Wolf are available for press interviews.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, March 27, 2012                                                                 

Media Contact: Rachel Pinkstone-Marx | (484) 708-1802 | rmarx@lbbc.org

Founded in 1991, LBBC is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering all women affected by breast cancer to live as long as possible with the best quality of life. Programs and services include an educational website (lbbc.org), a toll-free Survivors' Helpline at (888) 753-LBBC (5222), national conferences, free teleconferences and networking programs, quarterly newsletters, publications for medically underserved women, healthcare-provider trainings, recordings and the Paula A. Seidman Library & Resource Center.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://www.cisionwire.com

http://www.cisionwire.com/living-beyond-breast-cancer/r/philadelphia-to-host-conference-for-women-living-with-metastatic-breast-cancer,c9237353

The following files are available for download: