Largest International Gathering of Young Breast Cancer Survivors and Their Healthcare Experts Address Breast Cancer in Young Women
Videos from the conference available below.
More than 750 young breast cancer survivors as well as co-survivors and medical professionals gathered for the 9th Annual Conference for Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer, held Feb. 27-March 1, 2009. A collaborative effort of three nonprofit organizations — Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC), Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and the Young Survival Coalition (YSC), this annual three-day event is the only international educational conference that focuses on the unique issues of young breast cancer survivors.
Renowned healthcare professionals provided the latest medical, research and psychosocial information related to young women’s unique needs. The conference provided networking opportunities for young breast cancer survivors and their co-survivors. Conference attendees came from across the U.S. and from Europe, Africa, Australia and Canada.
Workshops offered specialized information for young women with breast cancer
Keynote presentations and more than 25 workshops offered specialized topics ranging from fertility and sexuality to environmental issues, triple negative breast cancer, survivorship and other issues of critical importance to young women.
Videos of the featured speakers are now available at the links below:
Eric P. Winer, MD, Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s Chief Scientific Advisor, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Plenary Session, Medical Update for Young Women
Click here to watch video
Wendy S. Harpham, MD, FACP, author of Happiness in a Storm: Embracing Life Through and After Cancer and The Hope Tree
Click here to watch video of Question and Answer Session with Dr. Winer and Dr. Harpham
Rowan T. Chlebowski, MD, PhD, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Plenary Session, Diet and Nutrition: The Research and What it Means for You
Click here to watch video
Powell Brown, MD, PhD, member of Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s Scientific Advisory Board, Baylor College of Medicine. Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS): Understanding Your Diagnosis and Treatment Options
Click here to listen to audio recording
"Young women diagnosed with breast cancer face different challenges than older women. This conference gives them a chance not only to meet others who can identify, but also to learn about the latest treatments and advancements in subjects that apply to them," said Hala Moddelmog, president and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. "The conference supports Komen’s aim to empower women at every age, especially young women who often face aggressive forms of the disease."
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in young women in the U.S. ages 20-59. About five percent of all breast cancers are diagnosed in women under age 40 in the U.S. Though breast cancer is less common, its impact is still devastating. Young women diagnosed with breast cancer face issues that may differ from women who are postmenopausal. These issues may include the possible onset of early menopause, fertility questions, pregnancy after diagnosis, overall higher stage of breast cancer at diagnosis and a higher mortality rate.
There are more than 250,000 women living in the U.S. today who were age 40 or under when they were diagnosed with breast cancer. This year in the U.S. alone, more than 9,000 women under 40 will be told that they have breast cancer. Visit, http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/YoungWomenandBreastCancer.html, to learn more about young women and breast cancer.
Save the date for the 2010 conference:
10th Annual Conference for Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer will be held
February 26-28, 2010, at the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel in
Atlanta, Georgia.
Please visit www.youngsurvivorsconference.org to find out more information about the upcoming conference. Online registration and travel scholarship information will be available this winter.
