Leading medical experts in oncology and psychiatry gathered Oct. 15 to discuss and answer questions about the newest developments in targeted therapy for cancer and strategies for coping with the emotional component of the illness at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center's 26th Annual Women's Health Symposium.
From left: Dr. Herbert Pardes, Dr. Orli Etingin, Dr. Gail Saltz and Dr. John Leonard at the 26th Annual Women's Health Symposium, Oct. 15.
Organized by the Women's Health Symposium Committee, which is co-chaired by Joan Weill and Myra Mahon, the luncheon benefit was opened by Dr. Herbert Pardes, president and CEO of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, and Dr. Orli Etingin, director of the Iris Cantor Women's Health Center at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell. This year's featured speakers were Dr. John Leonard, the Richard T. Silver Distinguished Professor of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Weill Cornell Medical College, and Dr. Gail Saltz, clinical associate professor of psychiatry at the Medical College.
The Symposium, entitled "Target Cancer, Target Cure: Hope for the Patient, Help for the Family" — held at Citigroup headquarters in New York — shed light on treatment options, customized care, and resources available to help both patient and family navigate the emotional ordeal of coping with a cancer diagnosis.
"There is a tremendous increase in the understanding of cancer at the molecular level which is leading to many new advances," said Dr. Leonard.
Understanding the genetic and molecular abnormalities in cancer is helping to lead to more "targeted" therapies that go after the root causes of the problem, rather than just killing all cells (normal and malignant) that are dividing. This is resulting in new and potentially less-toxic treatments.
Dr. Saltz offered several tips for cancer patients and their families.
"Let others help you," she suggested. "Don't feel you have to go through this experience by yourself."
Now in its second decade, the Symposium is one of the first programs in the city dedicated to educating women about significant health issues. Physicians, researchers and scientists at Weill Cornell continue to pursue areas of research and clinical care that focus on improving health care for all women. By holding annual symposia on women's health, the Medical Center provides the opportunity for women to obtain information and exchange views about the latest medical developments.