DEBBIE’S DREAM FOUNDATION TO PRESENT PATIENT EDUCATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON STOMACH CANCER

Distinguished Leading Physicians & Scientists To Speak At Event

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, April 26, 2011 – Debbie’s Dream Foundation (DDF) is hosting a stomach cancer patient educational symposium on Saturday, May 7, 2011 at The Westin Beach Resort and Spa in Fort Lauderdale (FL) from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. There is no charge to attend the program in person or participate via the live webcast. The symposium is open to all patients diagnosed with stomach cancer or related gastric cancers, their family and friends, health professionals and anyone interested in learning more about this under recognized disease. Advance registration is required.

Several of the nation's leading experts will address a full range of issues related to stomach cancer risk, its diagnosis and treatment. The speakers include:

Jaffer A. Ajani, MD, Professor of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Jordan D. Berlin, MD, Associate Professor, Medical Oncology, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

Kathleen Wesa, MD, Assistant Attending Physician, Integrative Medicine Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Carol Brudenell, MSN, RN, AOCN, Genetics Counselor, Research Nurse Manager, Bienes Comprehensive Cancer Center at Holy Cross Hospital

Drs. Ajani and Berlin will discuss the latest advances in the treatment of gastric cancers. Dr. Wesa will talk about the role complementary and integrative medicine can play in helping patients cope with the emotional and physical challenges of cancer, and Ms. Brudenell will explain the genetic risk factors that can place some individuals at risk for this disease. Paula Kim, DDF Chief Operating Officer, will speak about DDF’s efforts to advance research funding, public policy and national outreach. Debbie Zelman, President and Founder of Debbie's Dream, will share her story about her own diagnosis of advanced stomach cancer.

"I am so excited that Debbie's Dream is hosting this first annual patient education symposium," Debbie Zelman said. "When I was diagnosed in 2008, it was difficult to find any information about stomach cancer. It's a complex disease, so patients need to be able to educate themselves. It is really an honor to have such distinguished experts here to participate in this program."

In addition to the presentations, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and to interact with each other and share their experiences.

Stomach cancer is the fourth most common cancer worldwide, and the second leading cancer killer. In the United States, over 22,000 new cases are diagnosed every year, many in an advanced stage, and over 10,000 people die of the disease. While progress in finding better ways to detect stomach cancer early and treat it effectively has been slow, in recent years there have been a number of promising developments that provide hope for a brighter future. This symposium, which is sponsored by Debbie’s Dream Foundation and Institute for Medical Education and Research (IMER) offers an excellent opportunity to hear leading physicians and scientists speak about their important new work.

There is no fee for the educational symposium which includes lunch and informational handouts, but you must register in advance. Online registration can be done by going to this link: http://stomachcancerfoundation.org/portal/web/guest/upcoming-events. To register by phone, call the DDF office at (954) 889-5825, ext. 12 or (954) 475-1200. The live webcast, which will allow participants to interact with our panel, will also be accessible on iPhones and iPads by downloading the free application at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id338279?mt=8.

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About Debbie's Dream
Debbie Zelman was forty years old, the wife of a physician, mother of three young children and owner of her own law firm when she was diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer. In the course of searching for effective treatment options, she quickly learned how difficult this disease is to detect and treat and that the prognosis is often grim. She decided to begin Debbie's Dream Foundation to raise awareness of the disease and encourage research into the causes of and cures for stomach cancer. In its first two years, DDF has become a strong voice in South Florida for stomach cancer research and is emerging as a national leader in raising awareness and providing patient services for this under-recognized and under-funded disease. Debbie's Dream Foundation, Inc. (DDF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
For more information visit: www.411stomach.org.

Debbie's Dream Foundation, Inc.
6919 W. Broward Blvd. # 309
Plantation, FL 33317

Jack Heilig
(954) 889-5825
Jack.Heilig@411stomach.org

This release was published on openPR.