top of page

LBBC Thriving Together 2023 Takeaways

By Dawn Oswald


Dawn Oswald joined SBC at the LBBC Thriving Together: 2023 Conference on Metastatic Breast Cancer through SBC’s Educational Grant Program. Read below for Dawn’s takeaways from this incredible event!


I attended the 2023 conference in person for the first time. I attended via Zoom last year. The reason I chose to attend in person is because I believe it is more personal and I learn more in person. LBBC and SBC offered grants to help me attend the conference. I am greatly thankful for the support.


On Saturday, I attended “Ask the Expert: Diet, Physical Activity, and Sleep” with Rachel Beller, MS, RDN, and Pallav Mehta, MD, where we learned about the importance of fiber and ideas of how to incorporate it, plant-based foods, and oncology-specific exercises (see more in Liz Mover’s LBBC’s takeaways).


I also went to the session “Recently Approved Therapies and Promising Approaches for the Future” by Nancy U. Lin, MD. In this presentation, Dr. Lin shared information about gene mutations and applicable therapies, MBC-specific treatment options for improved survival rates, treatment resistance, and different therapies based on hormone receptor status. Some of the many drugs discussed in Dr. Lin’s presentation included:


  • Piqray, Afinitor, and capivasertib for the P13K mutation

  • Trodelvy for triple-negative breast cancer

  • Neratinib, tucatinib, and Margenza for HER2-positive breast cancer

  • Antibody-drug conjugates: Trodelvy and Enhertu

  • Targeted therapies: Kisqali, Verzenio, Lynparza, Talzenna, and Piqray

  • Endocrine therapy for estrogen-positive breast cancer

  • Everolimus, elacestrant, alpelisib, and fulvestrant as second-line therapies for estrogen-positive breast cancer

  • Chemotherapies: Xeloda, Taxotere, Gemzar, Ixempra, Halaven, and Abraxane

  • Chemotherapies for HER2-positive breast cancer: Herceptin, Perjeta, Tykerb, Afinitor, and Ibrance


I participated in a movement class, “Reclaiming the Body’s Healing Power Through Movement & Dance” with Nancy Herard-Marshall, MS, LCAT, BC-DMT. In this activity we were asked to consider some introspective questions about our own cancer experiences, our connections with the community, and understanding the power of our own story. We did some exercises and then we just danced any way we wanted. We were trying to throw the cancer out of our bodies, if only we could. I had a great time dancing. Exercise is very important. I try to walk at least a couple times a week with my puppy and do my lymphedema exercises. Check out Project Life MBC for upcoming events.


I attended an evening play called “IV: Our Lives,” and it was very good. The play was about men and women learning that they have metastatic breast cancer. It was based on interviews with 100 men and women asking them how they felt when they were told they had metastatic breast cancer. The play was in their own words. Let’s just say it had a lot of adult language. The hope is that recording this and getting it out there for others to hear will help get the awareness out there about MBC. Their mission is to educate family, friends, oncology teams, colleagues and those newly diagnosed with MBC. It was a little emotional and lasted for 1.5 hours. Thank God they gave us tissues.


On Sunday I went to a panel called “Shared Voices: Learning from Each Other,” with four speakers with MBC: Thomasina Butler, Sheila Godreau, Cheryl Law, and Deb Ontiveros. One of the panelists, Thomasina Butler, has been living with MBC since 2005. If that doesn’t give us hope, then I don’t know what will. I am not losing my hope or my faith. The panelists answered MBC-related questions for an hour. We all have our own experiences with MBC. It is always good to share.


The conference ended with “Living Well with Metastatic Breast Cancer,” presented by Stephanie Broadnax Broussard, LCSW, ACHP-SW and Don S. Dizon, MD, FACP, FASCO. The presenters discussed sexual intercourse and ways to approach sex as someone who has experienced breast cancer and treatment. It might be something as simple as vaginal dryness. They recommended oils. My suggestion is, if you're having problems in that area, to see a sex therapist or at least tell your doctor.


In conclusion, I highly recommend attending the LBBC MBC conference next year. This year’s conference was full of information, and it gives me hope that there are people out there to help us. If you want to attend next year, you can visit the LBBC website and subscribe to receive information as it becomes available.




Thank you, Dawn, for attending the LBBC conference with SBC and sharing your takeaways with the SBC community!


 


SurvivingBreastCancer.org Resources & Support:



115 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Meditation Mondays:

Chakra Chanting with Gloria

Mondays at 10:00 a.m. ET 

RSVP

Thursday Night Thrivers:

All Stages

Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. ET

RSVP

 

Thursday Night Thrivers:

Metastatic Breast Cancer

First and third Thursdays

of the month at 7:00 p.m. ET

RSVP

 

Thursday Night Thrivers:

Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Second Thursday

of the month at 7:00 p.m. ET

RSVP

Tuesday Night Thrivers

Después de un Diagnóstico:

Spanish support group

2do y Cuarto Martes de cada mes 

7:00 p.m. ET

RSVP

Restorative Yoga:

Journey to the Stars

September  25 1:00 p.m. ET

RSVP

Qi Gong 

September 26, 11:30 a.m. ET

RSVP

Breast Cancer Book Club

October 1, 11:00 a.m. ET

RSVP

Art Therapy

October 2 6:00 p.m. ET

RSVP

Yoga Stretching for DIEP flap

October 3 6:00 p.m. ET

RSVP

Yoga with

Chair assist 

October 10, 11:30 a.m. ET

RSVP

Writing Workshop:

Reflect and Recharge

October 16, 6:00 p.m. ET

RSVP

Más eventos en español

RSVP

Upcoming Events

1

Surviving Breast Cancer provides breast cancer support, events, and webinars at no cost to you! Whether you are looking to gain more knowledge on a particular topic or meet up with other breast cancer survivors, we have something for everyone. 

2

Our standing appointment on Thursdays is for all stages. We also host specific breakout groups once a month for specific stages and subtypes such as Metastatic breast cancer, and Inflammatory Breast Cancer, etc. 

3

The Book Club meets the first Sunday of every month at 11 am ET. You are welcome to join each month or pick and choose your month based on your availability and the book we are reading. 

4

Through art, writing, and other creative modalities, we hold the power to manage our stress, make sense of our now, and relax into moments of stillness. 

5

Free, monthly, online classes in restorative yoga, yoga for breast cancer, and Zumba. 

6

Después de un Diagnóstico

bottom of page