Roswell Park To Share Latest Breast Cancer Information At Two Events

BUFFALO, NY — With the rapid pace of treatment advances and options, variances in screening guidelines and recommendations, and the ongoing national conversation about healthcare policy changing the oncology landscape, it can be hard to keep up with new information about breast cancer and to sort out reliable, evidence-based recommendations from those that are more speculative. Recognizing this, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (Roswell Park) is offering two programs as part of its Pledge to Go Pink awareness initiative.

A Breast Cancer Expo, happening Saturday, October 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Boulevard Mall in Amherst, NY, will feature opportunities to meet and ask questions of Roswell Park’s breast cancer experts, including: Shicha Kumar, MD, Breast Surgeon, 10–11 a.m.; Ermelinda Bonaccio, MD, Director of the Mammography Center, 11 a.m.–noon; David Mattson, Jr., MD, Director of the Breast Radiation Oncology Program, noon–1 p.m.; Stephen B. Edge, MD, FACS, Chair of Breast Oncology and Medical Director of the Breast Center, 1–3 p.m.; as well as Kilian May, MD, Radiation Oncologist, Ellis Levine, MD, Medical Oncologist, and Tracey O’Connor, MD, Medical Oncologist.

Joining the members of the Roswell Park breast cancer team will be representatives from the Western New York Breast Resource Center at Roswell Park, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Gilda’s Club Western New York and Yroswell, a program for young people who want to help create a world without cancer. Stylists will also be on hand from D’Art Moda Salon and Aesthetics selling “Paint Me Pink” cruelty-free feather hair extensions, with proceeds benefiting breast cancer research at Roswell Park. The Expo, which is free and does not require reservations, will be located near Sears at the Mall.

A State of Breast Cancer Forum, to be held Wednesday, October 19, at 6 p.m. at the Roswell Park Amherst Center, 100 College Parkway, Amherst, NY, will feature an open discussion of timely topics, such as who is at highest risk for breast cancer; can breast cancer be prevented; what are the  most effective imaging methods; and what are some of the latest discoveries and advances from breast cancer researchers at Roswell Park and around the world. Presenting will be Dr. Edge; Dr. O’Connor; Christine Ambrosone, PhD, Chair of the Department of Cancer Prevention and Control; and Gokul Das, PhD, Associate Member of the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics. Free parking is available for this event.

“Breast cancer isn’t just one disease, it’s many different kinds of disease, each with their own complex characteristics and risk factors,” notes Dr. Ambrosone. “It’s hard, I think, for anyone on their own to keep up with all the literature and all we’re learning in the oncology field, so we really embrace these opportunities to answer people’s questions and share good information.”

Space is limited at the State of Breast Cancer event. To reserve a spot, call 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355) or send an email to AskRoswell@Roswellpark.org. Visit RoswellPark.org/GoPink to find details about both events.