Thriving Together: 2023 Conference on Metastatic Breast Cancer

Newly diagnosed: A guide for understanding a diagnosis of MBC
Speaker: Zanetta Lamar, MD

Whether this is your first breast cancer diagnosis, or you have had breast cancer before, learning you have metastatic breast cancer is likely to be overwhelming. This session is designed to provide you with the medical information and practical support necessary to help you make informed decisions about your treatment and to get your bearings during the first months after a metastatic diagnosis. This session may also be helpful to those who aren’t newly diagnosed but need a basic understanding of metastatic breast cancer and how it is treated.

Living long term with MBC: Making treatment decisions
Speakers: Virginia Borges, MD, MMSc and Abigail Johnston

As a person living long term with mets, you may have experienced several lines of treatment or changes to your treatment. We’ll explore the variables involved in making these decisions, the questions you can ask to better understand available treatment options, ways to honor your quality-of-life goals (including when to halt or stop treatment), and how to communicate your decisions and needs effectively with your provider and your family.

Bone mets
Speakers: Carmen Bergom, MD, PhD and Katherine N. Weilbaecher, MD

The bones are the most common place for breast cancer to spread. In this session, learn about treatment options, and get strategies to limit side effects, manage bone pain, and maintain bone strength. We’ll also discuss how to understand screening tests, and we’ll share updates on clinical trials studying new treatments and quality of life.

Managing side effects
Speaker: Kimberly A. Curseen, MD

Managing side effects of your treatment is crucial to living well with metastatic breast cancer. In this session, learn about effective strategies to manage side effects from targeted, localized, and systemic treatments. Ask questions of our expert and share tips with others in the chat throughout this session.

Small group hangouts to connect you with others, share experiences, and give and receive support virtually in the Webex Events (formerly Socio) platform/app

Newly diagnosed: Managing emotions
Speakers: Jenny Burkholder and Celeste Vaughan-Briggs, LCSW

A metastatic breast cancer diagnosis can feel like a shock to the system. If you’ve recently been diagnosed, we know that you may be experiencing intense emotions and uncertainty. Join this breakout to explore these complex emotions, hear from others who have been there and get strategies for managing feelings now and as you go forward.

Living long-term with MBC: A panel discussion on the tough stuff
Facilitator: Cheryl Hughes, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C
Panelists: Ann Camden, Stephanie Walker, and Toni Willis

Living with metastatic breast cancer can feel like a roller coaster. You may have experienced several changes in treatment, managed many side effects, and had to make hard choices about practical matters like career, relationships, and how to spend your time and energy. Join this breakout session to discuss these challenges, hear from others like you, and get strategies for managing the toll that these medical, emotional, and everyday matters take from you over time.

The cost of cancer for MBC patients
Speakers: Mary E. Costello and Pam Traxel

According to a poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation, around 20% of adults who have personally had cancer or have a family member who had cancer said they owe $10,000 or more in medical debt. This debt has been fueled in part by the "eye-popping price tags" of new treatments. For those living with metastatic breast cancer, that dollar amount is most likely much higher. This workshop looks at the costs of cancer seen through the lens of metastatic breast cancer patients.  The cost of cancer care and potential advocacy solutions will be explored by American Cancer Society’s Pam Traxel, while Mary E. Costello, an MBC advocate, will share her story of facing staggering medical costs.

Managing pain
Speaker: Joshua A. Jones, MD, MA

Understand different types of pain, and hear about medicines and methods to manage pain while preserving your quality of life. Learn how to include pain management in your overall treatment plan, including ways to communicate with your doctor about concerns and finding resources and pain specialists.

Get checked in and receive your name tag and conference bag.

Speaker: Stephanie McLeod-Estevez, LCPC

In this interactive workshop you’ll learn how to use art therapy to bring your whole self into the present, so you feel grounded and ready to experience the power of connection. You do not need to be an artist to benefit from this practice; you will be guided through the process by the speaker.

Get to know your fellow attendees during this light dinner, and hear our evening remarks to welcome and orient you to tonight’s activities.

Sponsored by Daiichi-Sankyo

Take some time to mingle and network with fellow attendees, reconnect with old friends, and meet new ones while enjoying some sweet treats.

Speaker: Farah Hassanbhai-Kapoor

Virtual exhibit hall opens. Exhibitors can be accessed online via our Webex Events (formerly Socio) platform/app at any time throughout the weekend.

Get checked in and receive your name tag and conference bag.

Visit with our in-person exhibitors. Exhibitors can also be accessed online via our Webex Events platform/app at any time throughout the weekend.

Use this room to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the conference. Enjoy a cup of tea or hydrate with some water as you relax and recharge.

Sponsored by Lilly

Enjoy breakfast, network with others and visit with our in-person exhibitors.

Speakers: Rachel Beller, MS, RDN and Pallav K. Mehta, MD

We all know a good diet, exercise, and adequate rest help to optimize well-being. As a person living with metastatic breast cancer, you may face unique challenges in these areas. In this 60-minute Q&A session, ask your questions and gather strategies from our experts about optimizing your nutrition and getting the sleep and physical activity you crave.

Speaker: Gregory Garber, MSW, LCSW

A diagnosis of MBC not only affects the person who has been diagnosed but also the people who care and share in their lives. Caregivers face many challenges including fears for the future, juggling everyday matters, and navigating communication. Join this session to safely explore these issues and identify your needs as a caregiver, while gaining tools for managing stress, concern, and fear.

Enjoy a stretch and light snacks and visit with our in-person exhibitors. Exhibitors can also be accessed online via our Webex Events platform/app at any time throughout the weekend.

Small group hangouts to connect you with others, share experiences, and give and receive support virtually in the Webex Events platform/app!

Speaker: Nancy U. Lin, MD

Hear about drugs that have been approved for metastatic breast cancer over the last 2 years and how they impact each subtype of breast cancer. Learn how these latest approvals compare with previous standard-of-care therapies, what we know, and what we don’t, and hear about the exciting drugs and approaches in the pipeline for the next 3 to 5 years.

Take a screen break, enjoy some food, be in your life, and rejoin us at 1:45 p.m. (ET) for our virtual facilitated hangouts.

Enjoy lunch, a time out from the conference, or a visit with our in-person exhibitors. Exhibitors can also be accessed online via our Webex Events platform/app at any time throughout the weekend.

Small group hangouts to connect you with others, share experiences, and give and receive support virtually in the Webex Events platform/app!

Speaker: Kelly Grosklags, LICSW, BCD, FAAGC

In this session, we will discuss the implications of daily loss while living with MBC. There are both subtle and profound losses that can influence feelings of sadness, anxiety, and depression. Our speaker will discuss the concept of anticipatory grief and how important it is to name your losses and allow others in for support.

Enjoy a stretch, light snacks and visit with exhibitors. Exhibitors can also be accessed online via our Webex Events platform/app at any time throughout the weekend.

Speaker: Nancy Herard-Marshall, MS, LCAT, BC-DMT

Thousands of years ago, our ancestors understood the mind-body-spirit connection through using dance among other art modalities as healing arts. As we know, living with MBC can give us a feeling that our bodies have betrayed us. In this session, we will explore movement and dance as a way to reconnect and reclaim our bodies by renewing us with strength and power. This approach works towards integrating movement and dance with our feelings, emotions, images, and spirit so that participants can connect to their own creative expressions and experiences. No dance experience is necessary. Just be open to the possibilities of renewing your life force through this holistic and creative approach.

Evening motorcoach tour of Old City Philadelphia. Tour departs from hotel lobby on Christopher Columbus Boulevard. Pre-purchased tickets are required for this event.

Speaker: Farah Hassanbhai-Kapoor

Panelists: Thomasina Butler, Sheila Godreau, Cheryl Law, and Deb Ontiveros

Listen to, learn from, and share with a panel of your peers. Topics will include living with uncertainty, setting goals and having hope, parenting, navigating relationships with friends and family, managing finances, work and insurance matters, and much more.

Take a quick break before coming back to join us for our closing keynote session.

Speakers: Stephanie Broadnax Broussard, LCSW, ACHP-SW and Don S. Dizon, MD, FACP, FASCO

Get the information and tools you need to manage the physical and emotional impact of metastatic breast cancer and its treatments. Explore the quality-of-life issues that impact living well, the gift of self-care, and how to define well-being for yourself to live as fully as possible. Speakers will take your questions and comments live throughout his presentation.

Gather as a conference community for our closing conference remarks.

If you are attending in person, plan to join us for our on-site meetups and opportunities to connect with other attendees in a variety of special activities throughout the weekend.

Video enabled hangouts
If you are joining us virtually from the comfort of your home, tune into our video-enabled small group hangouts to meet others, share stories, and give and receive support.

Led by LBBC’s Leadership Volunteers who are also living with MBC, these hangouts are scheduled throughout the virtual conference program to provide you with multiple opportunities for connection.

These small group hangouts are hosted within our conference platform, Webex Events (formerly Socio). No extra registration or link required. Turning on your video and microphone is encouraged, but not required to participate. Choose one hangout to participate in or move around the groups as you like.

The social wall
Write posts, share pictures, and connect with each other throughout the weekend on the LBBC Social Wall.

Make a one-on-one connection
Make new friends or connect with familiar faces by sharing about yourself on your attendee profile in the Webex Events platform/app and sending connection requests to other attendees. In the conference platform you can direct message and video chat with your connections throughout the conference weekend and beyond.

#LBBCMetsConf
Follow the conversation and share your own takeaways and questions by using #LBBCMetsConf on Twitter and Instagram. We find that many attendees, experts, and supporters are active on Twitter during the conference weekend. And of course, don’t forget to tell your network ahead of time that you’re attending Thriving Together!

Facebook

Visit the Events section of our Facebook page and join “2023 Conference on Metastatic Breast Cancer” to connect with other conference attendees.