9-11-2024 5:45pm

“The Biggest Loser” Chef Devin Alexander Headlines Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset’s Breast Cancer Awareness Symposium on Oct. 29

Donnella Tilery Editor

SOMERVILLE, NJ, Sept. 11, 2024 – Devin Alexander, renowned chef from NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” and cookbook author, will be the keynote speaker for Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Somerset’s annual Breast Cancer Awareness Symposium, “Balancing Hormones and Losing BIG with Devin Alexander,” on Tuesday, Oct. 29 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Bridgewater Manor.
She will be joined by Deborah Lue, MD, breast surgeon with RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group and director of breast cancer program at RWJUH Somerset’s Steeplechase Cancer Center, to discuss the importance of balancing exercise with a healthy diet to prevent breast cancer as well as the relationship between hormones and breast cancer. RWJUH Somerset and Rutgers Cancer Institute, the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, are at the forefront of breast cancer research and treatment.
Alexander, who spent 10 years with “The Biggest Loser” and has maintained a 70-pound weight loss over 20 years, believes you don’t have to deprive yourself to be healthy. She is a New York Times bestselling author with 9 cookbooks, including her most recent cookbook “You Can Have It.”
In addition to “The Biggest Loser,” Alexander has hosted the “Have It All!” radio talk show, “Healthy Decadence” on Discovery Health and Fit TV and “America’s Chefs on Tour” on PBS. She has been a frequent guest on TV shows such as The Today Show, Good Morning America, Dr. Oz, The View, Dr. Phil and the Food Network. She served as culinary advisor to Men’s Fitness Magazine and cooking expert for Women’s Health magazine. She also served as American Diabetes Association champion and American Heart Association ambassador.
Dr. Lue is a board-certified breast cancer surgeon with more than 25 years of experience. She obtained her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland and graduated with her medical degree from Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She completed her residency and received her breast training at RWJUH in New Brunswick. Dr. Lue is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and certified by the American Board of Surgery.
She will discuss the types of breast cancer that may be caused by hormones as well as the difference between estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) positive breast cancer and strategies to balance hormones and reduce breast cancer risks. She will also provide an overview of the importance of annual mammograms, diagnostic tools for breast cancer and treatment options. The Breast Cancer Awareness Symposium will include dinner, a cooking demonstration and a copy of Alexander’s cookbook, “You Can Have It.” Doors open at 4:30 p.m. A book signing will follow the presentation. Cost is $25. To register, visit: https://bit.ly/46NQFCEamp;source=gmail&ust=1726177436224000&usg=AOvVaw2E019xvda4zkH1sFm4cgcm">https://bit.ly/46NQFCE About Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital SomersetLocated in Somerville, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Somerset, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, is a nationally accredited, 339-bed regional hospital providing comprehensive emergency, medical/surgical, behavioral health and rehabilitative services to central New Jersey residents. As a designated teaching hospital of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, the hospital maintains a family medicine residency program with 21 residents. RWJUH Somerset has earned significant national recognition for clinical quality and patient safety including the prestigious Magnet® Award for Nursing Excellence. As the first hospital in New Jersey to offer primary health care services for the LGBTQIA community, RWJUH Somerset has been honored as a Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equality by the Human Rights Campaign. The Steeplechase Cancer Center at RWJUH Somerset is accredited by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer. RWJBarnabas Health and RWJUH Somerset in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute - the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center - bring a world class team of researchers and specialists to fight alongside you, providing close-to-home access to the latest treatment and clinical trials. For more information, visit www.rwjbh.org/somerset.