Eisai congratulates breast cancer community for offering important new retreat programs

MISSISSAUGA, ON, April 17, 2015 /CNW/ - Eisai Limited congratulates Canada's breast cancer patient community on the success of the weekend retreats they are offering for women living with metastatic breast cancer. These weekends away are intended to provide participants with an opportunity to connect, share and reflect with others in a supportive and restorative environment. The first retreat for young women and their caregivers was held by Rethink Breast Cancer in February 2015. A second event called Retreat, Renew, Refresh is scheduled for this weekend (April 17, 2015) and will be hosted by the Canadian Breast Cancer Network (CBCN) and Willow Breast and Hereditary Cancer Support.

Retreats encourage the sharing of personal stories from patients and caregivers, with a goal of helping others with their own journey and providing a sense of support. All of this will be achieved through facilitated and informal sessions designed to encourage dialogue, as well as increase coping skills along with plenty of time for recreation and relaxation. Ultimately, participants will have an opportunity to relax and enjoy a weekend away from daily life – which can be tough, not only for the patient but also for a patient's support system.

"The Canadian breast cancer community continues to break boundaries with a common goal of positively impacting the lives of patients and their families," says Yuji Matsue, Chairman and CEO, Eisai Inc. "We applaud such a strong patient focus, which aligns so closely to our own human health care (hhc) philosophy to help satisfy unmet medical needs and increase benefits to patients and their families beyond the development of important new treatments."

Eisai is pleased to support the work being done by Rethink Breast Cancer, the Canadian Breast Cancer Network and Willow Breast Hereditary Cancer Support through an unrestricted grant.

"Our heartfelt thanks goes to Eisai for helping to make this retreat happen," said Cathy Ammendolea, Chair of the Board for CBCN. "It is so important to bring women with metastatic disease together, so that they can share experiences and relate to one another. We believe it helps them to become stronger as they move through the healing process." 

Rethink Breast Cancer's retreat called Stretch. Heal. Grow was held in late February, in partnership with Jasmine Fiore Dodge, and offered attendees valuable insight into techniques that promote overall wellness through yoga. The weekend also gave the young women a chance to meet other young women who understand the challenges of living with metastatic breast cancer, as well as the opportunity for their caregivers to connect.

"People can have such a positive impact on each other just by sharing experiences," said MJ DeCoteau, Executive Director, Rethink Breast Cancer. "Throughout the weekend friendships were formed, bonds were strengthened, and new coping and healthy living strategies learned."

For more information on the upcoming retreat hosted by the Canadian Breast Cancer Network and Willow Breast Hereditary Cancer Support (April 17-19, 2015 in King City, ON), please contact: [e-mail].

About Eisai Limited
Eisai established the Canadian pharmaceutical company Eisai Limited in 2010. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eisai Inc., Eisai Limited is based in Mississauga, Ontario, one of the largest biopharmaceutical clusters and medical communities in North America. For more information about Eisai in Canada, please visit www.eisai.ca.

About Eisai Inc.
At Eisai Inc., human health care is our goal. We give our first thoughts to patients and their families. As the U.S. pharmaceutical subsidiary of Tokyo-based Eisai Co., Ltd., we have a passionate commitment to patient care that is the driving force behind our efforts to help address unmet medical needs. We are a fully integrated pharmaceutical business with discovery, clinical, manufacturing and marketing capabilities. To learn more about Eisai Inc., please visit us at www.eisai.com/US. 

Eisai Inc. has affiliates that are part of a global product creation organization that includes R&D facilities in Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, as well as a global demand chain organization that includes manufacturing facilities in Maryland and North Carolina. Eisai's global areas of R&D focus include neuroscience; oncology; metabolic disorders; vascular, inflammatory and immunological reaction; and antibody-based programs.

About Willow Breast and Hereditary Cancer Support.  
Willow Breast & Hereditary Cancer Support, founded in 1994, is a national not-for-profit organization that provides free support, insight and information to anyone, including those at high risk, affected by breast and hereditary cancer. We endeavour to ensure that no one, from the individual diagnosed to their family and caregivers, needs to face it alone. For more information please visit www.willow.org.

About the Canadian Breast Cancer Network
The Canadian Breast Cancer Network is the leading survivor-directed, national network of organizations and individuals concerned about breast cancer. The Canadian Breast Cancer Network exists to voice the concerns of breast cancer patients and survivors and promote the best quality of care for all Canadians affected by breast cancer. 

About Rethink Breast Cancer^TM
Rethink Breast Cancer's mission is to empower young people worldwide who are concerned about and affected by breast cancer. Rethink is the first ever Canadian charity to bring bold, relevant awareness to the 40s and under crowd; foster a new generation of young and influential breast cancer supporters; infuse sass and style into the cause; and, most importantly, respond to the unique needs of young women going through it.  By taking a breakthrough approach to all aspects of breast cancer – education, resources, advocacy, community building, and fundraising – Rethink is thinking differently about breast cancer.  To find out more about Rethink Breast Cancer, visit rethinkbreastcancer.com

SOURCE Eisai Limited

For further information: Media Inquiries, Karen Law, Eisai Limited, 905-361-7136