PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 2, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hundreds of people will convene here April 8-10, 2016 for the 10th annual Conference on Metastatic Breast Cancer presented by Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC), the national information and support organization. Registration is now open for the conference, called Thriving Together, to take place at the Sheraton Philadelphia Society Hill Hotel.
"The conference was life-changing for me," said Beth Caldwell of Seattle, Washington. "I learned so much about our disease and how to manage it, and being with others living with MBC helped me feel so much less alone. I left the conference feeling empowered to tackle MBC and made lifelong friends."
"We started the metastatic breast cancer conference 10 years ago to meet the complex medical, social and emotional issues of women who have advanced breast cancers," said LBBC's CEO Jean A. Sachs, MSS, MLSP. "The need for a conference devoted to this population persists, because – unlike women who have early-stage breast cancers – these women will live with the disease for the rest of their lives. They appreciate a conference dedicated to their concerns and attended by peers who understand."
Metastatic (or stage IV) breast cancer occurs when cancer cells originating in the breast spread to another part of the body, most commonly the lungs, bones, liver and/or brain. While there is no cure for the approximately 152,000 U.S. women diagnosed with this stage of disease, many are living healthy and productive lives.
The conference features specialized general sessions and over a dozen workshops on topics ranging from ways to best handle treatment side-effects to guidance on finance management. Workshops for family members and caregivers are also offered.
"Conference attendees are provided with opportunities to meet, connect and interact with their peers throughout the weekend, which is part of the power of attending in person," said Catherine L. Ormerod, MSS, MLSP, LBBC's Vice President of Programs and Partnerships. "Furthermore, they have the opportunity to speak with leading national medical and wellness experts and learn about current and emerging treatment options, quality of life concerns and clinical trials."
In addition, LBBC will conduct its second Hear My Voice Outreach and Volunteer Training Program in conjunction with the conference. The 2016 class, made up of 25 women living with metastatic disease, will be trained in ways to address and assist others with the isolation and misunderstanding that often surrounds a stage IV breast cancer diagnosis. Those accepted into the training will gain a better understanding of metastatic breast cancer, the information and resources available to people with this stage of disease and ways to communicate and connect with similarly affected people and members of their local and online communities. Attending the conference is part of the training curriculum.
A limited number of travel grants and fee waivers are available to individuals who qualify. More information on the conference is available at LBBC.ORG and by following the social media handle #Thriving2gether.
The conference would not be possible without the support of event sponsors including Susan G Komen®, Southwest Airlines and Cancer Today Magazine.
About Living Beyond Breast Cancer
LBBC's mission is to connect people with trusted breast cancer information and a community of support. National conferences, Breast Cancer 360s, the Guides to Understanding Breast Cancer and a toll-free Breast Cancer Helpline are just a few examples of the services that are provided, always at little or no cost. For more information, visit LBBC.ORG or call (855) 807-6386.
A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=38728
