HER2 Support Group Forums - 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium

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2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium

I am curious about the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. I have read many posts with information that was presented at this event in previous years, so it has peeked my interest, especially since I live just an hour and a half down the road. Is this something that just the ordinary BC survivor like me can attend? I looked at the website for this year's symposium (Dec. 9 - 13) and I see there is a registration fee. The cheapest is for patient advocates. What does one have to do to become one of those? I am definitely interested in this and would appreciate any info from those of you who have attended it in the past.

I know this sounds early, but my calendar for the fall is already starting to fill up and I just happened to think about it.

Thanks! Alice

Oh Sweetness, you are anything but ordinary (wink). It pleases me to hear your calender is already filling up, awesome for Alice.>>Believe51

I have attended the last two years as a representative for Joe and Her2support.

This year I am hoping to pay for myself to go on my own accord (Joe needs to spread the love around to other deserving ladies on the boards) - so, this is a good question for Joe.

Alice,

Once again this year, we will pay for registration to the event for up to 6 of our members.

This is only for tthe registration, travel, hotel and food is not included. Check with your local Komen affiliate as many have travel scholarships available for this purpose.

Regards
Joe

Thanks Joe -

I don't have a problem paying for travel, food, etc. Depending upon the schedule, I might even just make the trip back and forth for some of the days so I don't have to worry about the hotel costs which would be the biggest expense. Or my hubby might go with me and we could enjoy a mini-vacation in San Antonio.

I also don't mind paying the registration fee, as long as it is just the $65 for the patient advocate category. I'd rather let the 6 spots go for someone else who is already having to worry about the travel costs, etc. What got me was what it said about the patient advocate category on the registration site . . . "Must provide name of organization you are representing". I didn't know if I had to officially apply to represent this forum, (I can't think of anyone else that I would represent), or if you were limited to the # of PA's you could have representing you.

I would love to be of help in promoting the forum as a way to pay back all that the forum has done for me. It would also be great to learn firsthand about the newest research and trials. Not only that, I think it would be so much fun to actually meet a lot of you in person and get to spend quality time with everyone.

That is more my question, what do I need to do to become a patient advocate so that I only have to pay the $65 fee, and what do I need to do to represent the forum.

Thanks everyone! Right now with as hot as it has been in Texas, I am wishing it were December already ;). It is also the girl scout in me that gives me the urge to "Be Prepared"!

Joe - I would love to go, and pay the $65 reg fee (and my own accomodations) ... are there some new official advocate requirements/training we have to accomplish or did I dream that?

Just indicate on the registration that you represent the HER2 Support Group. And PLEASE use your own address.

We are not limited to the amount of registrations, but just have limited funding available.

As I said previously...Check your local Komen to see if they provide scholarships.

Regards
Joe

I have seriously been giving thought of going too. I will have to fly down from Indiana. I bet its fun and we will learn a lot. I really want to meet some of you guys.

Alamo scholarships to SABCS

Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation offers a generous scholarship program for advocates. In addition to covering your costs, they have orientations and nightly mentor sessions to help make sense of all the information that you glean during the day. And at those sessions, you meet advocates from all over who are doing all kinds of interesting things. It's a nice way to ease into what can be a pretty overwhelming symposium. An Alamo scholarship is how I got there, my first year (2003).

Also, if you're interested in the science, look at NBCCF (National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund) and their Project LEAD trainings:
http://www.stopbreastcancer.org/inde...sk=view&id=395

and/or the Scientist-Survivor Programs offered by AACR:
http://www.aacr.org/home/survivors--...r-program.aspx

Both have scholarships available.

There is a growing need for informed breast cancer advocates in so many arenas - gov't agencies and clinical trial boards are two good examples. Much of the work can be done from home, now that it's so easy to set up webinars and teleconferences. I encourage you to get the foundation by participating in one or all of these programs, so that when the opportunity arises, you'll be ready!

Debbie Laxague

oops forgot one link