For Immediate Release
Contact: Stacia Weaver
P: (484) 708-1802
Haverford, PA – Aug. 26, 2011: Living Beyond Breast Cancer® (LBBC), a nonprofit organization that provides education programs and support services to women affected by the disease at an international level, will host its annual fall conference on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011 at the Lowes Philadelphia Hotel.
News You Can Use: Breast Cancer Updates for Living Well provides information, support and practical resources to women at all stages of treatment, recovery or management of metastatic disease in a setting that allows women and their caregivers the opportunity to discuss the pivotal issues resulting from diagnosis.
Along with the educational element of the conference that will be fulfilled through the large plenary sessions or the smaller and more intimate workshop segments that are to be led by some of the nation’s most highly respected medical professionals, attendees of the program will also be introduced to LBBC’s kick-off 20th anniversary celebration.
Starting Oct. 1, the first day of national Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM), through the next year, LBBC’s programs will strategically highlight and focus on the growth of the organization over the last two decades. Elyse Spatz Caplan, Director of Programs and Partnerships of Living Beyond Breast Cancer, has a personal journey with the disease that goes deeper than her title.
“Last week my oldest son, Dan, celebrated his 28th birthday. Twenty years ago, I entered the hospital prepared for a modified radical mastectomy. I worried if I would make it home in time for Dan’s 8th birthday. My three sons were so young. Fortunately, I did arrive home after surgery on Dan’s birthday. That was then, today is today,” said Caplan.
Caplan, who has been employed at LBBC for 12 years, leads the education department in the implementation of the organization’s three annual conferences.
“Over the last 10 years, it has been a remarkable experience to personally see how LBBC has grown in order to service the varying and constantly changing needs of women affected by the disease. I, like the very women who will be in attendance on Oct. 1, was diagnosed nearly 20 years ago. During that time this organization was one of few that significantly provided unique information that catered to a woman’s specific needs,” she continues.
NBC 10’s Lu Ann Cahn of The 10! Show has signed on to lead one of the plenary discussions to reflect the 20th anniversary theme. Cahn has been very open with her breast cancer diagnosis and admits to have turned to LBBC for guidance, support and resources 20 years ago when she was first diagnosed.
“I never thought I’d be alive 20 years after I was diagnosed,” says Cahn, who was challenged by breast cancer at the age of 35. “My daughter was still so young at the time and I knew that I wanted to see her grow up.”
For more information about Living Beyond Breast Cancer’s fall conference, News You Can Use: Breast Cancer Updates for Living Well, please visit lbbc.org or contact Stacia Weaver via email: stacia@lbbc.org.
-30-
About Living Beyond Breast Cancer:
For twenty years, Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) has been empowering women to live as long as possible with the best quality of life regardless of educational background, social support or financial means. Founded in 1991, LBBC has been committed to providing national educational programs and services that include an educational website, lbbc.org; a toll-free Survivors’ Helpline, (888) 753-LBBC (5222); national conferences; free teleconferences; networking programs; quarterly newsletters; publications for medically underserved women; healthcare-provider trainings; recordings and the Paula A. Seidman Library and Resource Center.
