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Breast Care Center’s Annual Survivor Luncheon Celebrates Life, Inspires Hope

GW Breast Cancer Luncheon

The clinking of glasses resounded through the pink-embellished Marvin Center ballroom on October 8^th, as more than 200 breast cancer survivors celebrated life, friendship, and hope. The traditional champagne toast, led by Cokie Roberts, Emmy Award-winning journalist and bestselling author, set the spirited mood for the Breast Care Center’s Annual Luncheon, which included speakers, slideshows, and of course, a delectable meal complete with pink-ribbon topped cupcakes.

“Here’s to all of you, here’s to the GW program, here’s to the incredible work that GW does in terms of outreach…and here’s to carrying on into the future,” toasted Roberts, who is a breast cancer survivor herself.

This year’s event, which was more highly attended than ever before, honored the lives and the courage of the attendees, who ranged from the recently diagnosed to those who have been cancer-free for decades. All of them, however, were grateful for compassion and the innovation of the GW Breast Care Center.

As one of the doctors who had touched the lives many of those present, Christine Teal, MD, director of the Breast Care Center, doled out hugs and smiles liberally to her patients and friends. When introducing the luncheon speaker, Laurie H. Turney, Dr. Teal said, “Laurie is truly a sister and a soul mate to me. She’s a true inspiration to me and she is the reason I’m here. I hope that she can inspire you the way that she’s inspired me.”

Breast Cancer Luncheon Speaker

From behind the podium, Turney identified with the women in the crowd. “I am a three-time breast cancer survivor,” she said. “I am a tri-athlete. I am a wife, a daughter, a sister, and a friend. I am an avid gardener, an animal lover, and a nurse. And I am every one of you. By sharing my story with you, I hope I can inspire you to go out and celebrate your lives.”

Turney’s story—which began with her father’s breast cancer diagnosis when she was 17—was one of strength. “Because of cancer, I lost my hair, but I gained an amazing strength,” she explained. “Cancer has made me face challenges that I never would have; that I never would have thought I could have,” she said in reference to the lawsuit she filed—and won—against her employer who terminated her job due to her cancer treatments.

Turney’s story was also one of learning and love. “As strange as it sounds, cancer has given me many gifts. I have really learned to love myself,” she said, after describing her empowering hair-shaving parties and her sharpened ability to listen to her body. “I also have been blessed with amazing friends. Learning who your friends are is another gift cancer gives you,” she said.

Finally, as promised by Dr. Teal, Turney’s story was one of inspiration. “We are unique and special women. We are a powerful symbol of hope and of strength. And we are sisters in this journey in search of the cure. We are survivors and we have to send a message to our sisters who still have a fight ahead of them—do what it takes, do whatever it takes, know that you did, and live your life.”

The luncheon concluded with Roberts campaigning for “four essential pieces of legislation to make sure that we can continue on this road of having fewer people die from this disease, and fewer people living with this disease.” She discussed the unacceptable disparities in cancer detection and treatment, but also applauded the crowd for how far they have come. “All of you have made it through and you are an inspiration to the rest of the community. But, we have to keep working very hard to make this go away.”