U. sponsors symposium on breast cancer

In the 1950s, only one in 20 women fell victim to breast cancer. Today, that figure has more than doubled to one in eight. This increase means that an increasing percentage of women and their families have to deal with breast cancer and its effects on everyday life, according to Joan Borysenko, medical doctor and president of Mind/Body Health Sciences, Inc. In a response to that increase, the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center sponsored a symposium Friday specifically directed at those who have had an experience with breast cancer, whether personally or through a family member. The forum, "Life After Breast Cancer," was attended by more than 200 survivors of breast cancer and their loved ones. The majority of the featured speakers were experts from the UPCC. They lectured on inherited breast cancer, advances in its treatment and inner healing after breast cancer. Later in the day, they led workshops at the University Museum dealing with these topics. Lynne Nelson of the American Cancer Society attended the symposium to learn about the most recent developments in the field of breast cancer. "It has been really very interesting and very professional," she said. "We learned about a new test that is able to determine if someone is genetically pre-disposed to having cancer." Borysenko talked about the connection between the mind and body and cancer, stressing that inner peace can sometimes lead to cure. "People often hold on to grudges or stressful relationships and it manifests itself physically through some disease of the body," she said. "The symptoms keep reoccurring because they do not treat the deeper problems." Slides depicting peaceful settings and spiritual energy accompanied her lecture because "the components of healing are good intuition, healthy intellect and art." "What we live through or do not live through has to do with our attitude," Borysenko said. "Often times the diagnosis with a disease such as breast cancer is a time to slow down and answer the the following questions -- who am I and what do I want?" she added. "We might have been too busy to pay attention to them previously." Borysenko also said it is very important for those recently diagnosed with breast cancer to be in contact with survivors of the disease. "Survivors of breast cancer become shamans because they can pass on wisdom and understanding to others through their own experiences," she added. Sylvia Payne, a breast cancer survivor, was impressed by the entire forum -- especially Borysenko's lecture. "I wasn't aware of this forum until today, but I am glad I came," she said. "I need to be a part of things like this in order to facilitate more healing for myself."