Deforia Lane was drawn to hospitals and caring for the ill, but her gift was music. She couldn’t see how they would come together — but they did. Share her journey in music and as a breast cancer survivor.

This talk will cover new and up-and-coming treatments in breast cancer as well as those that have proven effective over the past few years. Join us for an educational experience as we tackle some of the more scientific parts of our program.

Specialist Lauren Shaiova will focus on pain management for patients with a diagnosis of breast cancer or a cancer pain syndrome after cancer treatment. There will be a discussion on assessment of pain and the various treatments and side effects.

An in-depth talk will help to explain the newest updates in genetics and cancer. In addition to the updates, this talk will help us to understand how genetics play an important role in breast cancer and when and why women should be tested for the gene.

Examine some of the most common side effects of breast cancer treatment, such as fatigue, nausea, and neuropathy—and the treatments or methods to cope.

Diagnosed with breast cancer in 1986, CURE and Heal Editor-at-Large Kathy LaTour has spoken about the psychosocial issues of cancer for more than 15 years. Her presentation, “One Mutant Cell,” follows her journey with humor and insight.

The focus of this session will be on helping patients to understand early stage breast cancer and its treatment options including staging, pathology, and the newest treatments.

The goal of this breakout is to take a closer look at advanced stage breast cancer and explore the newest treatment options for not only ER+ and PR+ cancers but also Her2 positive cancers. In addition, triple negative breast cancer will be discussed, including why this is a more difficult cancer to treat and new options on the horizon.

This breakout is specifically targeted at those living with metastatic breast cancer. By understanding the many facets of metastatic disease, this session will cover both medical and psychosocial issues.

Learn more about hormonal therapies for women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer in this breakout that will provide attendees with an overview of treatment updates, while also covering psychosocial issues that accompany this specific diagnosis. Additionally, this session will discuss all of the accompanying symptoms and best practices for relieving them.

Meant to give participants an overview of reconstruction options, this breakout will include the pros and cons of expanders, latissimus dorsi, and free flaps.

Explore the issues that may remain after treatment ends such as chemobrain, fatigue and pain, including other issues that participants bring to the discussion during this breakout session.

Speaker Leslie J. Waltke will help attendees to navigate the many issues they will face during and after radiation treatment for breast cancer. Waltke will cover all long term and late effects of radiation including radiation induced fatigue, pain, weakness and fibrosis to help you maintain the quality of your life despite radiation.

Discuss the benefits of massage therapy as it pertains to cancer patients and survivors, as well as contraindications and precautions. Self-massage techniques will be taught to participants.

Often a hard topic, this workshop, led by Debra Thaler-DeMers, examines issues related to intimacy and sexuality in the context of a cancer diagnosis. The session will provide participants with practical information as well as resources for dealing with sexual side effects of treatment.

Physical therapist Leslie Waltke will lead this informative talk on the chronic problem of lymphedema that many cancer survivors face after treatment. Waltke will cover why lymphedema occurs, how to minimize the effects of lymphedema, and practices you can take to eliminate lymphedema in your life.

A survivor of three different cancers, Susan Leigh, RN, is a founder of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship and a survivorship consultant who is fighting for recognition of issues faced by survivors. Join Leigh as she focuses on issues surrounding life as a cancer survivor, and offers skills and tolls to start developing your own survivorship plan.

Explore this very popular topic with this informative breakout session lead by Jody Pelusi. The session will address the variety of issues that affect nutrition and general well-being for cancer patients in treatment and those who have completed treatment.

In this interactive session, we will discuss fear of recurrence and how to live when you have that fear by identifying the fears and being aware of what factors trigger fear. We will discuss coping mechanisms people have used successfully to live in a non-fearful way. We encourage you to share how you have dealt with this very serious and difficult aspect of the cancer journey.

Cancer can interfere with couples in a bevy of ways. Survivor Dan Shapiro was 10 years beyond his diagnosis when his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. This practical breakout session is designed to provide useable strategies for improving couple’s communication. The sometimes funny, sometimes serious session can be attended alone (as a survivor or a spouse) or together. As part of the session, participants will privately identify strategies for addressing relationship issues.