“To transform survivorship from a mood into a movement by empowering, educating, and connecting women whose lives have been touched by cancer.”
~ Vision of the Women Survivors Alliance
The 2013 National Women’s Survivors Convention (NWSC) celebrates women who have conquered cancer, and its founding group is the all-volunteer Women Survivors Alliance. Their mission is “to establish a network where women affected by cancer can find their voice, improve their quality of life, and embrace their new normal.”
The conference will be held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, TN from August 22–24, 2013. The convention fee of $139 includes Empowerment sessions, the main stage presentations, the Survivor Chef Challenge panels, “Heeling” for Survivors Fashion Show, and the Red Carpet Live! Pajama Party.
Transportation to and from the convention, hotel, and meals are not included in the registration fee. The Saturday night Salute to Survivors All Star Concert will be held at the Grand Ole Opry and is $36 per person. Hosted by Scott Hamilton, the concert will feature Martina McBride and other Nashville stars.
The Empowerment sessions during the convention will focus on a wide variety of topics related to cancer. Our own Dr. Craigie will host a session called Know Your Options: Making Smart, Informed Choices Between Breast Reconstruction Procedures.
From the session description: “A well-informed patient who actively participates in decision-making is an essential ingredient of successful outcome in breast reconstruction. Participants will understand the patient-centered approach to choosing breast reconstruction procedures and be introduced to all available options . . . this discussion will be centered around the patient education process, making choices based on that information, and will provide tools and resources giving the participant ideas to organize and assess information proven effective for women facing the decision to have breast reconstruction.”
Other Empowerment sessions include topics such as stress reduction, sexuality, nutrition, and physical fitness. Guest speakers include Shannon Miller, Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast and ovarian cancer survivor; Tabatha Coffey, TV personality; Diem Brown, MTV personality and cancer survivor; and Scott Hamilton, Olympic gold medalist and World Champion figure skater and cancer survivor.
Sponsors and exhibitors include The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction, Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute, Meals-To-Heal, Eucerin, Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau, and A Silver Lining Foundation.
