MBC Webinar: Sex & Love with MBC

Featuring panelists Elizabeth McSpadden, Pamela Schwarz and Janice Cowden, who have firsthand experience with navigating the complexities of relationships, sexuality, and cancer treatment,   this talk offers candid conversations and heartfelt insights into this deeply personal journey. From navigating changes in sexual desire and function to finding ways to communicate with partners and healthcare providers, this webinar provides a supportive space for listeners to feel heard, understood, and empowered.

Pamela Schwarz

2021 was the year that turned my life upside down. I had a baby, was fired from my job, my dog died, and then I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, all within 9 months. I originally felt a lump in my breast while I was nursing but assumed it was a clogged duct or something breastfeeding-related. After my milk dried up and the lump was still there I decided to reach out for a mammogram, which I couldn't get because I was 31. I went straight to a breast specialist who biopsied the spot and the cancer marathon began from there. So now I'm 33 and post-menopausal, just over 2 years into living with cancer; I have a sweet husband and a wild 3-year-old and hair that looks nothing like what I had hoped it would be by now. I have two different part-time jobs that I juggle along with taking care of my family and my treatment, all while exploring how to live life more.

Liz McSpadden

Diagnosed at 30, originally stage 3, but misdiagnosed for nearly 18 months, I am ER+, HER2 low, stage four de novo to my bones/lymph nodes. My 1st care team could not agree on a treatment plan, and my second opinion saved my life finding it in my lymph nodes, till she ignored it in my bones due to her ego.

5 lumps on all left side, 16 lymph nodes removed, lymphedema, 1 failed port removed due to emergency surgery, double mastectomy,  numerous rounds of chemo and radiation, 6 failed therapies of stage 4 meds, ovaries and tubes removed to cut off food source and numerous failed reconstruction surgeries resulting in implants being removed and being flat.

Now, metastasis has moved to my brain, liver, bone marrow, and eyes. I have leptomeningeal disease and a brain port for treatment.

To help advocate for stage four, and continue to give my second chance at life, I write for Cure magazine with blogs, work with METAVIVOR  for an advocacy campaign, a calendar ambassador for Here for the Girls (Ms. JANUARY 2024), and written for Wildfire magazine, "Good Girls".

Janice Cowden

 Diagnosed with Stage IV triple-negative breast cancer in 2016, Janice became deeply involved in patient advocacy after participating in Living Beyond Breast Cancer’s Hear My Voice Outreach program in 2017. Her advocacy focuses on supporting individuals with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and expanding her understanding of the disease and its treatments. She regularly attends scientific conferences and webinars to stay informed. Janice is actively engaged with various patient-founded and led organizations such as PCDI, GRASP, and Project Life MBC. She founded an international online peer support group for newly diagnosed MBC patients and holds positions on the boards of METAvivor Research and Support, Inc., and Project Life MBC. Additionally, she is an individual member of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance. Outside of advocacy, Janice enjoys traveling, reading, outdoor activities, and spending time with her family, including her husband, two adult children, and three grandchildren.