Wellesley Women and the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers at Dana-Farber Come Together to Support Cancer Research and Education

At the Wellesley Country Club on November 15th, over 260 Wellesley women along with other business and community members from the greater Wellesley area came together with physicians and patients for the fifth annual “Beyond Boston Luncheon” – an event to both educate women about breast and gynecologic cancers and to help find cures by supporting the research and treatment advancements being made at the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers at Dana-Farber.

This year’s topic, Behind the Headlines – Demystifying Women’s Cancers in the News Today, was hosted by the Center’s Executive Council – a volunteer organization of women who are dedicated to the elimination of breast and gynecologic cancers through education, advocacy, and fundraising – and was co-chaired by Wellesley residents Pam Martin, Meredith Beaton-Starr and myself.

The program featured a panel of physicians from the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers as well as patients. The discussion ranged from the informative to the inspirational covering topics prominent in today’s national conversation about women’s cancers including risk factors, diagnostics, treatment and research.  The event also highlighted the importance of philanthropy and funding for the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers.   

Two of the most impactful speakers were Dana-Farber breast cancer patients Maggie Loucks and Sarah Kalil who shared their own experiences and unique perspectives on women’s cancers with the audience.

As Maggie Loucks said, “Dana-Farber is so much more than a cancer institute. Dana-Farber delivers personalized medicine using the latest procedures to deliver groundbreaking treatment.” Loucks continued, “You are not at a dead end.  You are not alone in this journey.  Dana-Farber is a place of hope.”  

Ms. Loucks concluded her remarks with an appeal for continued support of the work being done at the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers at Dana-Farber saying, “I stand here today, not only as a patient, but as a provider to ask for your help. The Susan F. Smith Center needs your support now more than ever. You can make a difference. Critical research into the cause and treatment of women’s cancers is at stake. As someone who has benefitted personally from that research, I can assure you that your money will go to very good use.”

The event was deemed by all to be a tremendous success.  It is estimated that the women in attendance contributed approximately $150,000 to date, which brings the total raised by the Council to more than $10 million since its inception.   

While there is no question that women are still dying from a women’s cancer and much work is left to be done, the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers at Dana-Farber is creating powerful possibilities for patients facing gynecologic or breast cancer by bridging the art of compassionate care and the science of clinical research. To learn more, please visit: Susan F. Smith Center for Women's Cancers.

We hope to see you at next year’s event!