SEATTLE, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The Group Room-the nationally syndicated radio call-in cancer talk show-will air a special lung cancer broadcast live from CHEST 2004, the 70th Annual International Scientific Assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), in Seattle, WA, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2004, from 1-3 pm PT (4-6 pm ET).
The Group Room is produced by Vital Options(R) International, in association with Premiere Radio Networks. Vital Options International is a global not-for-profit cancer communications, support and advocacy organization, headquartered in Southern California. This special lung cancer broadcast is sponsored by The CHEST Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the ACCP and will address the latest detection and treatment advances in lung cancer and will include an update on the ACCP Lung Cancer Guidelines released in 2003. The program airs live in cities across the United States and will also be simulcast live on the Internet at http://www.vitaloptions.org/ and on XM Satellite Radio, the ASK! Channel 165. Callers can enter discussions toll-free by dialing 1-800-GRP-ROOM (1-800-477-7666) or send their comments and questions by email to info@vitaloptions.org.
“Lung cancer is a complex disease, biologically as well as emotionally. The CHEST Foundation is enormously committed to patient awareness and advocacy and Vital Options International is privileged to have this partnership on behalf of the 174,000 men and women diagnosed each year in the US with lung cancer and their loved ones. This collaboration with The CHEST Foundation allows us to maximize our audience reach and further support our mutual efforts and goals of providing firsthand clinical information from some of the world’s leading lung cancer experts,” said Selma R. Schimmel, Founder and CEO of Vital Options International.
Joining Ms. Schimmel, who is also the host of The Group Room, will be contributors to the Lung Cancer Guidelines and Fellows of the ACCP (FCCP):
* W. Michael Alberts, MD, FCCP, Chief Medical Officer and Professor of Oncology and Medicine, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida; Associate Center Director, Clinical Affairs, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL; and President Elect-designate, American College of Chest Physicians and Chair of the Diagnosis and Management of Lung Cancer: ACCP Evidence-Based Guidelines Panel; * Gerard Silvestri, MD, MS, FCCP, Associate Professor Of Medicine, Medical University Of South Carolina, Charleston, SC; Editor of the chapter on noninvasive staging in both the first and second editions of Diagnosis and Management of Lung Cancer: ACCP Evidence-Based Guidelines; and also on the writing committees of both the screening chapter, and the invasive staging chapter; * M. Patricia Rivera, MD, FCCP, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Co-Director of Pulmonary/CCM; Co-Director, Multidisciplinary Thoracic Oncology Program; Co-Director, Pulmonary/Critical Care Fellowship Program University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC; Editor of the chapter on diagnosis in the first edition of Diagnosis and Management of Lung Cancer: ACCP Evidence-Based Guidelines; and now the chapter editor of Initial Evaluation & Diagnosis in the second edition of the Guidelines; * Walter Scott, MD, FCCP, Member and Attending Physician, Section of Thoracic Oncological Surgery, Fox Chase Cancer Center; Editor of the chapter on Treatment of Stage II NSCLC in the first edition of Diagnosis and Management of Lung Cancer: ACCP Evidence-Based Guidelines; and now chapter editor of Treatment of Stage I and Stage II NSCLC in the second edition; and * Howard (Jack) West, MD -- Medical Oncologist, Swedish Cancer Institute, Seattle, Washington
“The CHEST Foundation is pleased to sponsor this special lung cancer broadcast of The Group Room. A live discussion about this serious disease will not only help to bring the latest research findings in lung cancer directly to patients throughout the United States but also will allow patients and others affected by the disease to directly call in to the program and have questions answered by prominent lung cancer experts,” said Diane Stover, MD, FCCP, President of The CHEST Foundation.
The Group Room airs live every Sunday in select cities throughout the United States, reaching more than half million radio listeners a week, in addition to others who tune in via XM Satellite Radio or the Internet simulcast at http://www.vitaloptions.org/ where the show is also archived.
The show features Ms. Schimmel and The Group Room’s regular on-air medical experts -- medical oncologist Dr. Michael Van Scoy-Mosher, radiation oncologist Dr. Leslie Botnick and therapist Halina Irving, MFCC -- who are joined each week by callers affected by cancer, as well as renowned cancer experts and advocates who provide updates on research, medical advances, and advocacy efforts. All phone calls are screened by a licensed oncology social worker. During the week, individuals can reach Vital Options for support or to receive more information about cancer resources or stations carrying the broadcast.
Founded in 1983, Vital Options was the first organization to address issues related to young adults with cancer before expanding to include patients of all ages and issues and information related to everyone touched by cancer.
CHEST 2004 is the 70th annual international scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians, held October 23-28 in Seattle, WA. ACCP represents 16,000 members who provide clinical respiratory, critical care, sleep, and cardiothoracic patient care in the United States and throughout the world. The ACCP’s mission is to promote the prevention and treatment of diseases of the chest through leadership, education, research, and communication. For more information about the ACCP, please visit the ACCP Web site at http://www.chestnet.org/.
Founded in 1996, The CHEST Foundation focuses on education and disease prevention in four key areas: tobacco cessation and prevention, critical care, end-of-life issues, and awards for research and community service. By giving life to projects in local communities and around the world, with special emphasis directed to those who can least afford it, The Foundation enables the ACCP to realize its vision of being the leading resource for the improvement in cardiopulmonary health and critical care worldwide. For more information about The CHEST Foundation, please visit http://www.chestfoundation.org/.
Vital Options and The Group Room are supported through educational grants from corporate sponsors, Ortho Biotech Products, L.P., and Pfizer Oncology, and associate sponsor, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. The live remote broadcast from the American College of Chest Physicians CHEST 2004 has been made possible through additional support from The CHEST Foundation.
For further information, please contact: Jennifer Stawarz of The CHEST Foundation, +1-847-498-8306, jstawarz@chestnet.org; or Michelle Rand of Vital Options International, +1-818-788-5225, mrand@vitaloptions.org.
Vital Options International
CONTACT: Jennifer Stawarz of The CHEST Foundation, +1-847-498-8306,jstawarz@chestnet.org; or Michelle Rand of Vital Options International,+1-818-788-5225, mrand@vitaloptions.org
Web site: http://www.chestfoundation.org/
Web site: http://www.chestnet.org/
Web site: http://www.vitaloptions.org/