Raise Awareness for Neuroendocrine Cancer

Five Reasons to Attend a Neuroendocrine Cancer Patient Conference

~ Tricia Wahmann-Knatz ~ Leave a comment

Educational opportunities. No matter how experienced you are about handling your disease, everyone can learn. Being treated for a rare cancer can often be isolating, and without exposure to a variety of points of view, we can miss new ideas and trends that can impact our futures. The educational aspect of a conference can expose you to new treatment regimens and therapies and help you discover how to be a more productive advocate for your treatment and care.

Networking with peers. Patient conferences provide a great opportunity to network. Often patients and caregivers from different regions of the country can become valuable resources for referrals and best-practices. Avoiding your peers for whatever reason you have can actually limit you own success in fighting neuroendocrine cancer. You will find that the people who come together at a conference can help each other uncover ideas and spark inspiration when they get to know each other on a personal level.

Encounter the vendors & suppliers who provide the therapies you need. Too often people shy away from exhibitors at conferences. They fear they will have to talk to salespeople, but these industry suppliers are some of the best people for you to get to know if you want to learn more about the current direction of treatment. Discovering innovative products and services for your business is critical to your treatment and care in today’s fast-paced world. Invest time with the sponsors at the event and turn them into your friends and allies.

Position yourself as an expert. It has been suggested that well over half the requests by neuroendocrine cancer patients to their physicians for specific treatments are honored. A neuroendocrine cancer patient conference is the perfect opportunity to build your knowledge and become a better advocate for your health! You will hear directly from experts. Save your life by making sure you know enough to participate in your care so you are getting the best treatment plan possible.

Have fun. Being a neuroendocrine cancer patient or caregiver is hard work and it is stressful. All work and no play can get old fast. Patient conferences can add a layer of enjoyment to managing your disease by mixing a social aspect into your patient journey. Taking an extra day at the beginning or end of the trip to explore or visit friends in the region is also a great way to maximize the investment in travel. Never underestimate the power of a little fun mixed with some interesting people!

The internet won’t replace the conference experience. Many falsely believe that since they can now access industry information via the internet that the days of the live meeting are gone. The truth is, meetings are more important than ever. The value in meetings comes from the human-to-human connections that occur. Often people cite the serendipidous “hallway-conversations” that they have with other attendees as the most valuable parts of attending an event. While these are not on the agenda, or mentioned in the learning objectives, when two or more people begin to discuss topics on a deeper and personal level, the success of the event to those involved becomes irreplaceable. It is the people that bring the ROI to your time at a conference.

NCAN has 4 conferences scheduled for 2017. Why not make it your business to attend at least one of them?

Saturday, March 25th – NET Patient Conference – Charlotte, NC (Registration open NOW!)

Saturday, April 22nd – NET Patient Conference – Lexington, KY (Registration open NOW!)

Saturday, May 6th – NET Patient Conference – Seattle, WA (More information to come!)

Saturday, October 14th – NET Patient Conference – Iowa City, IA (More information to come!)

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:

Bring Light to NETs Campaign!

~ Tricia Wahmann-Knatz ~ Leave a comment

Introducing the Bring Light to NETs Campaign!

Raise Awareness for Neuroendocrine Cancer!

A lot is happening in the NET Cancer world this year. There are new treatments being poised for approval and several great events for awareness are in the midst of being planned to BRING LIGHT TO NET CANCER!

NCAN’s goal is to make sure that EVERYONE knows about this deadly disease.

YOU can be a part of this effort by wearing and sharing some great awareness items!

All orders recieved get special pricing PLUS a FREE gift, PLUS FREE shipping (inside the US) AND for your purchase of $20 or more, you also get a FREE t-shirt!! ***For orders outside of the US, please see details down below.

Check out your NET Cancer Awareness items HERE!!

Be sure to check back often, as NCAN will be introducing new items soon!

***For orders outside of the US, please email info@netcancerawareness.org***