Cancer conferences are meetings at which specialists from various areas of expertise discuss selected cancer patients. This provides a consultative service to the physician(s) treating the patient with input regarding further diagnostic work-up, staging, treatment and follow-up options. Radiology films and pathology slides for each case are also reviewed. Required attendance includes representatives from surgery, pathology, medical oncology, diagnostic and radiation oncology. The meetings are open to any health care professional that is involved in caring for our cancer patients, and often include plastic surgeons, physician assistants, acupuncturists, mental health care professionals, nurses, patient and nurse navigators, cancer registrars and genetic councilors.
At HCGH, we have two different cancer conferences. The first is the Breast Conference, which meets every Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. At this conference, we discuss nearly 100% of our newly diagnosed breast cancer cases. The second conference is the General Cancer Conference. This conference is held the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month at 12:15 p.m. For this conference, the cases are selected by the physicians based on the desire to review specific findings, or to obtain input from other specialists regarding treatment options. A minimum of 10% of all newly diagnosed cases seen at HCGH are discussed at this conference annually.
Tina Beerman, program manager of the Center for Breast Care, says, “Our goal is to provide the patient and his/her primary care physician with the best and most appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic options for the particular type and stage of disease. The Cancer Conferences can also serve as a second opinion for the patient.”
Your treatment will be less stressful and more convenient because most of the specialists and professionals you may need to consult are available right on HCGH’s campus:
- Primary Care Physician
- General Surgeon
- Plastic Surgeon
- Medical Oncologist
- Radiation Oncologist
- Physical Therapist
- Lymphedema Therapist
- Mental Health Professional
- Community Support Groups
- American Cancer Society Programs
- Claudia Mayer Cancer Resource Center
- Complementary Medicine Practitioners specializing in acupuncture and massage therapy
2009 Cancer Program Annual Report PDF
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