Upcoming ASTRO Meeting Highlights Advances in Cancer Treatment

Newswise — The American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, the world's largest radiation oncology society, will hold its 45th Annual Meeting October 19-23, 2003, at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Registered members of the press are invited to attend the meeting for free to learn about cutting-edge discoveries in cancer treatment.

More than 10,000 physicians, scientists, nurses, physicists, biologists, dosimetrists, radiation therapists and healthcare technology innovators are expected to attend this year's meeting to hear the results of the latest research in the battle against cancer and preview new technologies improving the lives of patients with cancer and other diseases. Registered press will have access to an on-site press room, offering computer workstations, printers, fax machines, telephones and data lines. ASTRO staff members will be on hand to facilitate interviews with researchers presenting groundbreaking studies at the meeting. Complimentary refreshments will be served.

To register for the meeting, please visit the Annual Meeting Media Corner online at http://www.astro.org/annual_meeting/media_corner/. Registered members of the press will receive a comprehensive media kit prior to the meeting.

Guest speakers at this year's event include:·Walter C. Willett, M.D., Dr.Ph., Harvard University School of Public Health·John Mendelsohn, M.D., President of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center·David Botstein. Ph.D., Stanford University Genetics Professor·Joseph V. Simone, M.D., Simone Consulting

Among the many stimulating topics to be addressed at this year's meeting are:·Accelerated Treatments for Breast Cancer Patients·The Role of Mammography·Improved Treatments for Prostate Cancer Patients·Advances in Lung Cancer Treatment·Benefits of Combining Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy·Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)·Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Gamma Knife·Proton Beam Therapy·Pain Management for Cancer Patients·Improving Quality-of-life for Patients·Update on Nuclear/Radiologic Terrorism Issues·Understanding Health Policy and Economics Issues

The American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology is the largest radiation oncology society in the world, with 7,000 members who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. As a leading organization in radiation oncology, biology and physics, the Society's mission is to advance the practice of radiation oncology by promoting excellence in patient care, providing opportunities for educational and professional development, promoting research and disseminating research results and representing radiation oncology in a rapidly evolving socioeconomic healthcare environment.