The Group Room(R) Cancer Talk Radio Show Broadcast From 5th Annual Conference for Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer

The Group Room(R) Cancer Talk Radio Show Broadcast From 5th Annual Conference for Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The Group Room -- the nationally syndicated weekly call-in cancer talk radio show -- will present a special taped broadcast from the 5th Annual Conference for Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer. The taping will take place on Saturday, February 19, 2005 from the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and air nationally on Sunday, February 20, 2005.

The goal of this international conference is to provide the most prevalent clinical information and address the unique psychosocial and survivorship issues impacting pre-menopausal women affected by breast cancer, their caregivers and healthcare providers. The conference is presented by Living Beyond Breast Cancer and the Young Survival Coalition. For more information about the conference please go to the Vital Options International website www.vitaloptions.org or the conference website www.youngsurvivorsconference.org.

Hosted by Selma R. Schimmel, Founder and CEO of Vital Options International TeleSupport(R) Cancer Network, The Group Room is produced by Vital Options in association with Premiere Radio Networks, the nation's largest radio network. The program enables cancer patients, their loved ones and medical professionals to engage in a dialogue about all aspects of the cancer experience. Schimmel is also a young adult breast cancer survivor.

Joining the panel will be:

* Julie R. Gralow, MD, Associate Professor of Medical Oncology,
University of Washington School of Medicine and Fred Hutchinson Cancer
Research Center and co-chair of the Southwest Oncology Group's Breast
Cancer Committee. She also serves as team physician and medical
director for Team Survivor Northwest, an exercise and fitness program
for female cancer survivors;

* Noah D. Kauff, MD, FACOG, Gynecologist and Geneticist at Memorial
Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, specializing in evaluation
and treatment of all hereditary cancer syndromes, including those that
cause an increased risk of breast, ovarian, colon, uterine, thyroid
and other cancers;

* Barbara Rabinowitz, PhD, MSW, RN, Director of Oncology Services for
Meridian Health, a three-hospital healthcare system in New Jersey;
President of the American Society of Breast Disease, the only
multidisciplinary breast disease organization dedicated to promoting
excellence and interdisciplinary standards for breast care. She
serves as a commissioner of the New Jersey Commission on Cancer
Research and is the founder of The National Consortium of Breast
Centers;

* Linda D. Applegarth, EdD, Director of Psychological Services at the
Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility at Weill Medical
College of Cornell University and Clinical Assistant Professor of
Psychology, Departments of Psychiatry and Obstetrics and Gynecology at
New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill in New York;

* Jean Sachs, Executive Director, Living Beyond Breast Cancer, Admore,
PA; and

* Randi Rosenberg, President, Young Survival Coalition, New York, NY



"Significant clinical advances have been made since I was diagnosed with breast cancer 22 years ago at the age of 28, but many of the psychosocial and access to care issues remain the same, and still too often, pre-menopausal women are delayed in diagnosis, believing they are too young for breast cancer. In an effort to teach and reach as many people as possible, Vital Options values the collaborative effort with the Young Survival Coalition and Living Beyond Breast Cancer, enabling The Group Room to broadcast from the 5th Annual Conference for Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer," said Selma Schimmel, who is also an ovarian cancer survivor.

"We are proud to collaborate with Vital Options to bring their worldwide radio audience the medical information and support services our organizations provide at this conference to young women affected by breast cancer," said Jean Sachs, MSS, MLSP, executive director of Living Beyond Breast Cancer. "I hope many of the listeners will join us in person next year."

"As the pioneer of the young adult cancer movement, we could not ask for a more perfect partner than Selma and Vital options. Selma is an inspiration to the thousands of young women affected by breast cancer we are reaching with this first annual broadcast from the conference," said Michele Przypyszny, Executive Director, Young Survival Coalition.

Founded in 1983, Vital Options was the first national organization to singularly focus on young adults with cancer. In 1993, Vital Options expanded its work into cancer communications serving patients of all ages. Today, Vital Options is an international not-for-profit cancer communications, support and advocacy organization, headquartered in Southern California. The Group Room is now in its 10th year and airs live every Sunday in cities throughout the United States, reaching more than a half-million radio listeners a week, in addition to others who tune in via XM Satellite Radio Ask! Channel/XM165 or the Internet simulcast at www.vitaloptions.org, where past shows are also archived. Callers enter on-air discussions through

toll-free by dialing 1-800-GRP-ROOM (1-800-477-7666) or sending their comments and questions by email to info@vitaloptions.org.

The show features 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, MS, MFT -- 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 additional support services and information.

Living Beyond Breast Cancer, based outside Philadelphia, is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering all women affected by breast cancer to live as long as possible with the best quality of life. Programs and services include: conferences; teleconferences; the toll-free Survivors' Helpline (888-753-5222); a website, www.lbbc.org; free quarterly newsletters; publications for African-American and Latina women; recordings; networking programs for young survivors and women of color; healthcare-provider trainings; and the Paula A. Seidman Library and Resource Center.

The Young Survival Coalition, based in New York, is the only international network of breast cancer survivors and supporters dedicated to the critical concerns and issues unique to young women affected by breast cancer. Through action, advocacy and awareness, the YSC seeks to educate and influence the medical, research, breast cancer and legislative communities to address breast cancer in women 40 and under, and to serve as a point of contact for young women living with breast cancer.

This special remote broadcast from 5th Annual Conference for Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer made possible through an educational grant from Ortho Biotech Products, L.P.

Contact: Michelle Rand, Vital Options(R), 1-818-788-5225


Source: Vital Options

CONTACT: Michelle Rand of Vital Options(R), +1-818-788-5225

Web site: http://www.vitaloptions.org/
http://www.youngsurvivorsconference.org/
http://www.lbbc.org/


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