PINK IS NOT THE ANSWER
Transcript of PINK IS NOT THE ANSWER
A Metastatic Breast Cancer Panel Discussionwith Special Guest, Lieutenant Governor, Susan Bysiewicz
October 13th, 2021
E. C. Scranton Public Library Madison, Connecticut
9:30AM: Coffee and Meet/Greet
with Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz
10AM - 12PM: Opening Remarks and Panel Discussion
To discuss the critical issues faced by metastatic breast cancer patients as they relate to access to care, health inequities and financial disparities. Panelists will be leading breast cancer oncologists from the state of Connecticut as well as patient advocates living with MBC.
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PINK IS NOTTHE ANSWER
S T R E N G T H
P R E S E N T E D B Y
Roberta LombardiFounder and President Infinite Strength
Breast Cancer Survivor
M O D E R A T O R
Roberta is a breast cancer survivor and early stage ally to the MBC
community. She began Infinite Strength in 2018 to provide single mothers
in active treatment for breast cancer with financial and emotional support.
As the nonprofit grew, she understood the unique needs patients with MBC
had and the lack of support and access to care for some groups. Infinite
Strength is the only breast cancer nonprofit in New England that provides
recurring financial grants for single moms with MBC, while also providing
support to their children as well. While the nonprofit is Connecticut based,
Infinite Strength provides assistance to women across New England.
Maryam Lustberg, MD, MPHDirector of The Breast Center at Smilow Cancer Hospital
Chief of Breast Medical Oncology at Yale Cancer Center
P A N E L I S T
Maryam Lustberg, MD, MPH, is Director of The Breast Center at Smilow
Cancer Hospital and Chief of Breast Medical Oncology at Yale Cancer
Center. She is also an Associate Professor of Medicine (Medical Oncology).
She has been recognized for her patient-focused care with awards
that include being rated by Forbes as one of the top breast medical
oncologists in the nation and named to the Castle Connolly list of “Regional
Top Doctors,” and “Exceptional Women in Medicine” for 2020. She is
currently participating in the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
Leadership Development Program.
Linda T. Vahdat, MD, MBAChief of Cancer Services, Head of the Department of Hematology/Oncology
at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
P A N E L I S T
Linda T. Vahdat, MD, MBA is the Chief of Cancer Services and Head of the
Department of Hematology/ Oncology at the Memorial Sloan Kettering
Cancer Center (MSK)- Physicians at Norwalk Hospital. She is a Member of the
Breast Medicine Service at MSK and a Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell
Medicine in NYC. Dr. Vahdat completed her medical degree at Mount Sinai
School of Medicine where she remained for residency training in Internal
Medicine, after which she completed fellowship training in Medical Oncology
and Hematology at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). In
2014 completed a Master of Business Administration at the Sloan School of
Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Lisa Laudico MA, LMSWSenior Host & Producer, Our MBC Life Podcast
Metastatic Breast Cancer Fighter
P A N E L I S T
Lisa is the creator and Host of the Our MBC Life Podcast from SHARE Cancer
Support. When she was diagnosed de novo MBC with ER+HER2- in August
2017, Lisa became the 4th generation in her family to be diagnosed with
breast cancer but the only one to be diagnosed at Stage 4 from the beginning
(de novo). She is currently on her sixth line of treatment and has participated
in two clinical trials. Since her diagnosis, Lisa has worked to use her skills
assisting others living with this disease through fundraising initiatives with
The Cancer Couch Foundation, along with support groups and webinars with
SHARE Cancer Support. In 2019, Lisa joined the Metastatic Breast Cancer
Alliance (MBCA) and is now the Co-Chair of the MBCA Awareness Task Force.
Deltra JamesCactus Cancer Society Board Member, Coordinator for Project Life MBC
Our MBC Life Podcast Member, Metastatic Breast Cancer Fighter
P A N E L I S T
Deltra is a Connecticut based mama of 5 amazing girls who she strives
to raise with cultural and health awareness. She’s a chain tea drinker, wig
hoarder, and lover of singing loudly and dancing unabashedly. Since being
diagnosed with Triple Negative MBC de novo in 2019 she has focused on
thriving through education, advocacy, connecting and radical self-care.
She is passionate about mental and emotional wellness, creative expression
as a means of coping, community building and connecting BIPOC women
with people and spaces that can care for their whole selves. She is a
member of Cactus Cancer Society’s YAC advisory board, the inaugural class
of For the Breast of Us Baddie Ambassador, the Our MBC Life podcast staff
and serves as Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator for Project Life MBC.
Susan BysiewiczLieutenant Governor of Connecticut
Advocate for Breast Cancer Awareness
S P E C I A L G U E S T
Sworn in on January 9, 2019, Susan Bysiewicz is serving her first term as
Connecticut’s 109th Lieutenant Governor. Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz’s and Gov.
Ned Lamont’s first priority is to grow good-paying jobs and investing in the
state’s future. Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz is continuing her commitment to economic
growth that made her a leading voice for Connecticut residents and small
businesses while she served as Secretary of the State from 1999 to 2011. As
a state representative in the Connecticut General Assembly, representing
the towns of Middletown, Middlefield, and Durham, Bysiewicz wrote
legislation to ban dangerous “drive-through” mastectomies and ensure that
women being treated for breast cancer had proper care.
S T R E N G T H
I N F I N I T E S T R E N G T H . O R G
If you would like to attend,please email [email protected].