net cancer awareness blog

Help Get NET Cancer Awareness BLOOMING This Spring!

~ Tricia Wahmann-Knatz ~ Leave a comment

Help us, the Neuroendocrine Cancer Awareness Network (NCAN), get NET Cancer Awareness BLOOMING this spring by purchasing beautiful flowers for your garden!

NCAN is doing a flower fundraiser this month to get awareness for NET Cancer blooming this spring!

How you can help: Visit NCAN’s fundraising site here and purchase blubs and seeds of your favorite flowers! Then, you will recieve your flowers and NCAN will recieve a whopping 50% profit from your purchase!

How it works: This campaign is running today (March 1st, 2017) through April 30th, 2017. You can place your order beginning now!

Please help us reach our goal of $2500 this spring so NCAN can continue the amazing and tireless work they do throughout the whole year! Remember once you make your purchase, be sure to send the campaign link on to friends and family, as well as sharing on social media such as Facebook!

We thank you for your support and for helping us BLOOM awareness for NET Cancer! Happy shopping and HAPPY SPRING!

NCAN’s 2017 Kentucky Neuroendocrine Cancer Patient Conference

~ Tricia Wahmann-Knatz ~ Leave a comment

Registration is open for the 2017 Kentucky Neuroendocrine Cancer Patient Conference & support group meeting on April 22nd, 2017 in Lexington, KY!

Date & Time: Saturday, April 22nd, 2017 from 8AM-5PM

Where: Griffon Gate Marriott Resort & Spa – 1800 Newtown Pike, Lexington, KY 40511

Price: $20 per person – includes breakfast, lunch, & snacks

Agenda:

8:00 am – 8:30 am     Registration and Breakfast

8:30 am – 8:45 am     Welcome By: Robert Wahmann          

9:00 am – 9:45 am     Controlling Symptoms of Hormone Hypersecretion By: Lowell Anthony, M.D.

 9:45 am – 10:15 am     Improvements in NET Imaging By: Riham El Khouli, M.D.

 10:15 am – 11:00 am     What is PRRT?  Results of the Randomized Phase III Clinical Trial By: Larry Kvols, M.D.

 11:00 am – 11:15 am     Break

 11:15 am – 11:45 am     Clinical Trials in NET  By: Aman Chauhan, M.D.

 11:45 am – 12:30 pm     Questions and Answers

 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm     Lunch

 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm     Patient Experiences

 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm     Support Group Session

For more information and to by YOUR ticket to the 2017 Kentucky Neuroendocrine Cancer Patient Conference on Saturday, April 22nd, click HERE!

Produced by: NCAN Bandaid

Don’t Miss the 2017 Charlotte NET Patient Conference!

~ Tricia Wahmann-Knatz ~ Leave a comment

NCAN has officially opened up registration for the 2017 Charlotte NET Patient Conference for Saturday, March 25th, 2017!

Agenda:

8 AM – 9 AM     Registration and Breakfast

9 AM – 9:10 AM     Welcome- Tricia Wahmann, NCAN

9:10 – 9:45 AM     Surgery and Related Therapies for NET Liver Metastasis- David Iannitti, MD

9:45 – 10:15 AM     NET Clinical Trials- Reza Nazemzadeh, MD

10:15 – 10:30 AM     Break

10:30 AM – 11:00 AM     Treating NETS: A Gastroenterologist’s Perspective-Matthew Eves, MD

11:00 – 11:30 AM     New Medical Treatment Options for Carcinoid / NET Cancer Patients- Brian Morse, MD

11:30 – 12:30 PM     Question and Answer

12:30 – 1:30 PM     Lunch

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM     The Significance of Patient Advocacy- Maryann Wahmann, Ronda Ayala, Judy Golz

2:30 PM – 2:45 PM     Break

2:45 PM – 3:45 PM     Networking for Patients

Meet the Speakers:

David Iannitti, MD- Surgery

Dr. Iannitti is the Chief of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic (HBP) Surgery. In addition to clinical research in the area of surgical approaches to treat diseases of the digestive tract, he is engaged in basic research that focuses on the development and characterization of microwave ablation technology for the ablation of tumor masses. Dr. Iannitti also collaborates closely with Dr. McKillop in ongoing projects that address the fundamental pathophysiology of Hepatocellular carcinoma development and progression. Dr. Iannitti also oversees the HBP Fellows program at CMC including the research and clinical components. 

Reza Nazemzadeh MD- Medical Oncology

Dr. Nazemzadeh graduated from the University of Texas Medical School at Houston in 2000. He works in Charlotte, NC and specializes in Hematology/Oncology. Dr. Nazemzadeh is affiliated with Carolinas Medical Center.

Matthew Eves, MD- Gastroenterology

Dr. Matthew Eves is a gastroenterologist in Mobile, Alabama and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Huntsville Hospital and Mizell Memorial Hospital. He received his medical degree from University of South Alabama College of Medicine

Brian Morse, MD- Radiology

Dr. Morse is an Assistant Member in the diagnostic Imaging section of Moffitt Cancer Center and holds a co-appointment as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Oncologic Sciences at the University of South Florida.  He received a BA in Microbiology from the University of Texas at Austin and an M.D. from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.  He completed his radiology residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas where he served as radiology chief-resident during his final year.  After residency, Dr. Morse completed fellowship training in cross-sectional imaging with an emphasis in body MRI at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona.  Dr. Morse is a reviewer for several journals and has published multiple articles in peer-reviewed journals.  His clinical expertise includes the use of computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), radiographs and fluoroscopy to diagnose cancer and assess treatment response, particularly of the gastrointestinal and genitourinary organs.  His research interests focus on imaging of neuroendocrine tumors.

Important information about this conference:

Where: Charlotte Marriott SouthPark – 2200 Rexford Road, Charlotte, NC 20211

Cost: $20 includes: breakfast, lunch, and breaks.

Special Rate for the hotel is available when booked BEFORE March 3rd. $129/night. You can book your room here!

Self-Parking is FREE.

To sign up for your spot at the 2017 Charlotte NET Patient Conference on Saturday, March 25th, 2017, please click here!

NCAN’s 13th Annual ‘Celebration of Life’ Gala and the ‘Above and Beyond’ Award Honoree

~ Tricia Wahmann-Knatz ~ Leave a comment

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Saturday, November 12th, 2016 was NCAN’s 13th Annual ‘Celebration of Life’ Gala in Bethpage, NY. Held at The Sterling, it was a beautiful evening of dancing, raffles, laughs, and good food!

The Gala is always one of my favorite fundraisers because it really is a celebration. We take the time to not only focus on the cause of NET Cancer, its awareness and fundraising but taking a moment to really enjoy and celebrate time with family and friends.

Every year at the ‘Celebration of Life’ Gala, NCAN takes the opportunity to honor someone who is invaluable to the NET community by presenting the ‘Above and Beyond’ award. Past recipients include Dr. Hal Gerstein, also honoring Dr. Gene Woltering and Dr. Tom O’Dorisio. This year, NCAN has honored Dr. Edward Wolin who is very well known throughout the community for his commitment to NET Cancer and his patients.

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As Director of the Neuroendocrine Tumor Program at Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, Dr. Wolin brings a robust research program to Montefiore, including multiple clinical trials. His research efforts focus on finding treatments which are more effective and less toxic, including m-TOR inhibitors, targeted radiation including PRRT, anti-angiogenic drugs, novel targeted biologic anti-cancer treatments, and targeted treatment of liver metastases. Dr. Wolin’s research is also directed at development of new imaging and diagnostic procedures for carcinoid/neuroendocrine tumors.

Dr. Wolin is an internationally recognized Neuroendocrine Medical Oncologist. Patients from all over the United States and abroad come to see him for access to personalized care and the latest diagnostic and therapy programs.

Dr. Wolin was previously the Director of Neuroendocrine and GI Oncology Program and the Director of Clinical Research at the University of Kentucky Medical Center.  For the preceding 26 years, he held key positions at Cedars–Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where he founded and directed of one of the largest and most productive Carcinoid and Neuroendocrine Tumor Programs in the country. As you can see, Ed Wolin is one of the foremost experts and best friends that neuroendocrine cancer patients have! For more information on how to reach Dr. Wolin, you can check out a brief profile on him from a previous post here.

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‘Above and Beyond’ Award Honoree – Dr. Ed Wolin and his wife, Susan.

 

Overall, it was a very successful night for NCAN and the NET community. Take a look here at some of NCAN’s wonderful prizes, the big winners of the TV, and one of the delicious cakes!

For more information on how YOU can get involved with NCAN’s 14th Annual ‘Celebration of Life’ Gala on November 11th, 2017, keep your eyes out here and be sure to watch out at NETCANCERAWARENESS.ORG for details! For help in hosting your own fundraising event for NET Cancer near YOU, send me a message here and I’d be happy to assist you.

NCAN would really love to thank all of the volunteers, donors, attendees, and sponsors for all of their time and support! Without you, events like this amazing night would not be possible!

NCAN’s 13th Annual ‘Celebration of Life’ Gala was sponsored by:

Speaker Spotlight – 2016 National Conference Edition Part 8

~ Tricia Wahmann-Knatz ~ Leave a comment

drtang

Laura H. Tang, MD, PhD

Pathologist

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Bio:

I am a pathologist who is trained in gastrointestinal surgical pathology and as a basic scientist with a focus on molecular pathophysiology of the gastrointestinal tract. My primary specialty is digestive diseases, particularly cancers of the gastrointestinal tract and the pancreas. I also specialize in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and Barrett’s esophagus, and have a special interest in gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors and carcinoid disease.

My investigative research involves elucidating the molecular mechanisms of cell proliferation and the regulation of malignant cell transformation, both with the goal of developing molecular techniques that will improve the early diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal tract cancers. I am currently involved in a multidisciplinary investigation of Barrett’s-related dysplasia and esophageal cancer. My career goals are to maintain excellence in the area of surgical pathology and diagnosis, and to improve patient care by developing strategies to speed the evolution of the field of morphologic pathology into a new era of functional and molecular pathology.

For more information on Dr. Laura Tang and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, please visit their website here.

You can read Dr. Tang’s journal articles by clicking here.

Dr. Tang at the 2016 National NET Patient Conference:

Topic: The Histology Staging & Grading of NETs

When: Friday, September 23th, 2016 at 8:45AM*

SIGN UP NOW FOR THE 2016 NATIONAL NET PATIENT CONFERENCE in New Orleans, LA from September 22-24th to see Dr. Tang and 19 other experts speak on Neuroendocrine Cancer! 

Registration is $125 per person including

  • Thursday’s Welcome Reception 
  • Breakfast, Lunch, and snacks for both Friday and Saturday
  • And keep your eyes out for some special prizes!

Registration does not include your hotel stay or travel expenses.

For more information and to buy your ticket, click here!!

*Time and Date are subject to change.

To check out some of our other speakers, click here!