“Even though a smile is silent, it can still be the loudest thing somebody can do to help someone else feel better,” said Masenburg. “You never know someone else’s story.”
Massenburg is a VCU grad, business professional with W.M. Jordan and an advocate for Massey and for the importance of self-examinations, which is how she discovered her own cancer while breastfeeding her daughter in 2019. She was the subject of CBS 6 WTVR’s February Buddy Check segment, hosted by Women & Wellness emcee Reba Hollingsworth. This monthly segment encourages women to remind friends and family members about the importance of breast self-checks to increase early detection.
Massenburg shared her story and stole the hearts of the more than 350 virtual guests who tuned in for Massey’s 26th annual Women & Wellness event on February 9.
The Zoom webinar continued the event’s time-honored tradition of bringing together strong, dynamic and compassionate women to advance women’s cancer research and health at Massey, and beyond. The event took place two days before International Day of Women and Girls in Science, and both served as a reminder of the immense contributions to the fields of science and technology by women and girls around the world.
Following an introduction by VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center director Robert Winn, M.D., four of Massey’s rockstar female cancer experts, Mary Helen Hackney, M.D., Susan Hong, M.D., Kandace McGuire, M.D., and Leslie Randall, M.D., led a panel discussion about updates in cancer research, clinical trials, Massey’s newly created survivorship program and advancements in cancer research over the event’s 26-year history. Each speaker also shared what thriving with cancer means to them.
Massenburg brought her spunk and personality to the event, acknowledging the incredible care, both physically and emotionally, that she is receiving at Massey, and why finding ways to laugh and stay positive is so important.
She also shared some of her favorite tips and tricks for how to stay positive and feel beautiful despite chemotherapy and the pain associated with cancer, including finding a bright new lipstick. Her current favorite is called “I am Powerful” by Milani, which she purchased and wore especially for Women & Wellness.
“My advice is to always try to find positivity in something that is negative. That’s another way for me to thrive,” said Massenburg. “And, find a nice bright new lipstick to help you feel beautiful. Today, because it was fitting for Women & Wellness, ‘I am Powerful.'”