Going to San Antonio Breast Cancer Conference

This is my second year to attend, hope I'll enjoy it more than last year when I threw my back out the week before.

This is the conference where much of the new breast cancer research is announced each year. The group I'm with will be doing "podcasts" every day. I'll put up a link so you can check in each day.

Let me know if you would like to attend in the future as a patient advocate. I'll give you details on what you need to do to qualify for a scholarship.

My assignment this year is on Screening and Prevention. Looks like I won't have much to work with. Many of the docs on our board will be there, I'll see them at a dinner on Thursday night.

Link to Conference Schedule & Presentations, Poster Sessions

http://www.sabcs.org/ProgramSchedule/Day2.asp

Ask me whatever you want and feel free to send me PM's during and after the conference with any questions you have.

If you want to attend yourself, feel free to contact me about sharing a room (I'm booked about 3 blocks away.)

I'm interested to hear more about it when you get back (and I'll look for your podcasts). Have fun! :hi:

podcasts.

http://www.m3login.com/Content/E99FDD09-0391-4793-B2A2-A227AE1DD322/

You can view the ones from 2005 that are archived. Mentor Session 1 with Dr. Susan Love is always good.

They're talking about key research study presentations that were given that day; that's what each mentor session is for - reviewing the highlights of each day more in "layperson" terms.

On edit: The questions asked in each session come from the breast cancer survivors. The woman moderator is a survivors, Vernal Branch.

The SABCS has live streaming at their web site, too. Right now you can view presentations from the previous year.

http://www.sabcs.org/

You can also view the schedules each day of what is being presented

http://www.sabcs.org/ProgramSchedule/ScheduleGlance.asp

Abstracts will be up at the web site later. It looks like there will be more talk on biomarkers, plus angiogenesis related topics and stroma and micro-environment (which is getting waaay out there).

I'd like to hear the podcasts. I am also really interested in your offer of attending as a patient advocate.

I am a survivor (five years this June) and I am very interested in starting a PA "service" in my area.

National Breast Cancer Coalition

http://www.natlbcc.org/

Join NBCC and attend their Annual Conference in late April, early May

http://www.natlbcc.org/bin/index.asp?Strid=713&depid=5

You'll learn a lot there, including how to start your own local organization (NBCC doesn't have chapters, per se, they encourage groups to be independent members). Scholarships for travel, lodging, etc. are available for the Annual Conference, applications at the web site.

To get a scholarship and attend the SABCS, you need to be a graduate of ProjectLEAD; deadline to apply for the next class is coming up fast, Dec 22 IIRC

http://www.natlbcc.org/bin/index.asp?Strid=482&depid=7

Then you can apply for a scholarship from the Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation to attend the next SABCS

http://www.alamobreastcancer.org/

It helps to have some training in the basics of understanding how research is conducted and evaluated as well as some basic knowledge of what breast cancer is, how it forms, also how to read and evaluate a research paper, etc.

Of course, if you are already a nurse, etc. you may not need the extra training, etc.

There are a lot of survivors involved in research advocacy. You have to do your homework and it can be difficult, but rewarding.

I do have research experience, but public health vs nursing.