LONG BEACH, Calif., Oct. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- World-wide experts and pioneers in the field of breast cancer -- whose research, teaching and patient diagnosis and treatment innovations have reduced breast cancer mortality by 30 percent over the last 25 years -- will come together during a day-long international symposium at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center to disclose how breast cancer is being overtreated and address issues of more tailored and limited therapies.
“Not only have these pioneering cancer specialists gained international renown by increasing breast cancer survival, they’ve allowed women to receive less toxic, less deforming and more humane therapies,” says John Link, M.D., Medical Director, MemorialCare Breast Center at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and author of two best-selling books on the treatment of breast cancer.
Keynote speaker Professor Umberto Veronesi of Milan, Italy pioneered modern treatment of breast cancer, including “limited” surgery, pre-operative chemotherapy and localized radiation. “Dr. Veronesi has been the most important and influential individual in the advancement of breast cancer treatment in the last 100 years,” adds Dr. Link.
As important as Professor Veronesi has been on the treatment side, Dr. Lazlo Tabar from Falun, Sweden, has made monumental contributions on diagnosing breast cancer. The pioneer of breast imaging and mammography, his research of more than a half million women around the world has proven the value of screening mammography and pre-operative work-up. Dr. Tabar will speak on the benefits of early diagnosis.
Professor and breast surgeon Mel Silverstein, M.D., author of the definitive book on the proper management of breast cancer, will be joined by Sandra Swain, M.D., Chief, Cancer Therapeutics Branch, National Cancer Institute with expertise on new tools to predict outcomes in breast cancer and Patricia Ganz, M.D., a leader in research on quality of life issues secondary to overtreatment of breast cancer. Other experts include Nisar Syed, M.D., pioneer in brachytherapy and hyperthermia to treat breast and prostate cancer (87 percent of all radiation oncologists performing these procedures were trained by Dr. Syed and his colleagues at Long Beach Memorial) as well as James Waisman, M.D. and Dr. Link, who are credited with starting the nation’s first community breast centers more than 20 years ago; and Carey Cullinane, M.D., the nation’s first cancer surgeon and geneticist, who will share the latest advances in genetics and family screenings for breast and other cancers.
These and more speakers will be featured at the International Breast Cancer Symposium at Long Beach Memorial, 2801 Atlantic Ave (405 freeway exit) on Oct. 14 from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm.
Directions: Long Beach Memorial Medical Center is located at 2801 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach. Take 405 Freeway, go south on Atlantic for three blocks. Go to the Long Beach Memorial Medical Center information desk and ask the staff to page public relations.
Contact Long Beach Memorial Public Relations at 562-335-5773 or 562-335-5881
Long Beach Memorial Medical Center
CONTACT: Long Beach Memorial Public Relations, +1-562-335-5773, or+1-562-335-5881
