Soprano Barbara Padilla To Entertain at Cancer Survivorship Conference Sept. 16
MD Anderson News Release August 29, 2011
First runner-up on “America’s Got Talent” persevered with vocal training despite treatment for lymphoma
MD Anderson News Release 08/30/2011
When treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma brought Barbara Padilla to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center several years ago, she decided to take maximum advantage of her time in Houston.
An accomplished soprano who was first runner-up on “America’s Got Talent” in 2009, Padilla will entertain during the banquet at Anderson Network’s 23rd annual Cancer Survivorship Conference Sept. 16. Padilla, who had always wanted to become an opera singer, refused to let her cancer treatments get in the way of her dream. She auditioned for the vocal performance program at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music. Awarded a full scholarship, she completed the master's program in 2004 while in treatment. Today Padilla, the proud mother of a young daughter, performs nationally and internationally.
The Cancer Survivorship Conference is open to all those who want to learn more about the issues cancer survivors face, meet and share with other survivors, take wellness classes and have fun.
Thanks to MD Anderson, sponsors and individual donors, the cost of the conference is just $50 for early registrants, which includes all meals, activities and self-parking.
Registration is available online at www.mdanderson.org/patientconference until Sept. 9. After that, participants may pay $60 at the door on the day of the conference.
Speakers, breakout sessions, medical panel
- The conference includes two dozen informative breakout sessions, including:
- issues of young adult survivors,
- depression and cancer,
- the benefits and dangers of vitamin supplements,
- sleep issues and cancer,
- living with metastatic disease,
- treatment of advanced melanoma, and
- improving outcomes with comprehensive lifestyle change.
The popular medical panel includes MD Anderson’s Raymond DuBois, M.D., Ph.D., provost and executive vice president; Robert Bast Jr., M.D., vice president of translational research; and Funda Meric-Bernstam, M.D., professor in the Department of Surgical Oncology.
Other keynote speakers are former Giants pitcher Dave Dravecky, who lost his pitching arm to cancer, chef and “Next Food Network Star” finalist Hans Rueffert and mountain climber Sean Swarner.
For more information or to register, check the conference website or call 713-792-2553 in Houston, 800-345-6324 toll free.
The Anderson Network, an organization with support and educational services for patients/survivors, their families and caregivers, is a program of the Department of Volunteer Services.
08/30/2011