Education symposium set for melanoma survivors, caregivers
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center melanoma experts will hold a patient education symposium for melanoma survivors and caregivers on Saturday, March 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Preston Research Building, Room 898J.
The free symposium, co-sponsored by the Melanoma Research Foundation, is open to all melanoma patients, no matter where they received their treatment.
Melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer, and until recently, there were few treatment options for patients whose cancer had spread to other parts of the body.
But new research and recently approved therapies are offering melanoma patients longer life and renewed hope for the future.
Led by Igor Puzanov, M.D., assistant professor of Medicine and associate director of the Phase 1 Program, the event is designed to provide melanoma patients and their families with the latest information about current therapies for the disease, as well as an overview of promising new research.
Igor Puzanov, M.D.
Experts will include Darrel Ellis, M.D., associate professor of Medicine in the Division of Dermatology, Mark Kelley, M.D., chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery, and Vicki Viar, R.N., MSN, research clinical specialist on the Melanoma Team.
Two melanoma survivors and patient advocates, Dick Boland and Cindy Birrell, will share their stories about coping with the disease, as well as opportunities for patients to become more involved in clinical research.
Light refreshments and lunch will be served.
For more information about the event, contact Kim Drake at 322-9799 or register online at www.vicc.org/.