Building Bridges: YSC and LBBC Join Forces for May 8 Webinar for Healthcare Providers

When a young woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, the first person she probably speaks to is a healthcare provider. Her head may be spinning with questions and decisions, but often she will have a team of professionals — an oncologist, breast surgeon, social worker and nurse navigator to name a few — who can help her move more easily through this process.

Healthcare providers may not see a young woman with breast cancer every day in their practice, but it is a population that certainly exists. Young women can and do get breast cancer. One in eight women diagnosed with breast cancer are under the age of 45, and those young women often face more aggressive forms of the disease. They are also grappling with the distinct medical and psychosocial concerns that come with a cancer diagnosis at this age.

Participants will hear from a panel of knowledgeable speakers, including yours truly, Stacy Lewis, YSC’s Chief Program Officer and Deputy Chief Executive. I will be talking about how, as we approach our 15th anniversary, YSC remains the oldest, largest and most influential national nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to young women affected by breast cancer. I will provide an overview of YSC’s programs and materials, as well as our most recent initiative, the Research Think Tank.

The Research Think Tank has allowed YSC to forge strong partnerships with leading healthcare providers and researchers tackling various topics concerning young women and breast cancer. It is relationships like these that emphasize the importance of continued connections with the healthcare community.

I am excited to join our other esteemed speakers, Elyse Spatz Caplan, Director of Programs and Partnerships at LBBC, and Dr. Kimlin Ashing-Giwa, Founding Director of the Center of Community Alliance for Research and Education at City of Hope Medical Center. We will discuss the results of the needs assessment LBBC recently conducted and will highlight the unique needs and concerns expressed by young women affected by breast cancer.

We hope the healthcare providers who attend this webinar will take away tips to deliver enhanced, age-appropriate care for young patients and clients, as well as learn about tailored national programs and resources for young women from LBBC and YSC. Join us to discuss how these issues affect the young women with whom you come into contact and how you can be their best resource! Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available for licensed social workers.