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Experts gather to speak on breakthroughs in lung cancer treatments, screenings Nov. 3

Experts gather to speak on breakthroughs in lung cancer treatments, screenings Nov. 3

SYRACUSE, N.Y.-- In light of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Upstate Medical University is hosting a free community event that will bring together cancer experts to talk about a range of issues regarding lung cancer, including the latest treatments and screening programs.

Upstate will host its 10th Annual “In the Crosshairs” lung cancer conference on Saturday, Nov. 3 at the OASIS and HealthLink Learning Center. The event will be open to the public and will aim to increase the awareness of this debilitating disease within our community. Experts will present the latest information on new early lung cancer diagnosis and treatment procedures to help patients and families fight the disease.

Lung cancer causes more deaths than the next three most common cancers combined (colon, breast and prostate). Approximately 373,489 Americans are living with lung cancer, and an estimated 160,340 Americans were expected to die from lung cancer this year, accounting for approximately 28 percent of all cancer deaths.

“It is important that people know the symptoms and discover the disease early to start treatment as soon as possible,” said Linda Veit, special projects manager at the Upstate Cancer Center. “November is lung cancer awareness month, and this will be the first in a series of events aimed to raise awareness about it.”

Ernest Scalzetti, MD, Upstate professor of radiology, will speak about a new lung cancer screening program that was started at Upstate in September. The new program uses low-dose CT scans to detect the smallest possible tumor and provides doctors with the opportunity to begin treating lung cancer in its early stages.

The event’s speakers will also present treatment options following a lung cancer diagnosis. Barb Robinson, MD, assistant professor of surgery, will address surgical treatment options patients have after receiving an early cancer diagnosis and Aliya Hafeez, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry, will explain the psychological impacts of a cancer diagnosis and how to deal with it.

Following a light breakfast, the program will conclude with an open forum. Free pulmonary function testing will also be available to all attendees.

To register,  call 464-8668. Admission is free, but seating is limited. The event will be held at the OASIS and HealthLink Learning Center, 6333 Rte 298 in East Syracuse. Use the DoubleTree Hotel entrance. Parking is free.

Caption: Participants in last year’s “In the Crosshairs: Lung Cancer” conference learned about preventing lung cancer, as well as new diagnostic and treatment procedures. It also featured pulmonary function testing (pictured) and smoking cessation strategies.

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