Three cancer experts from UNMC will conduct a live Internet chat sponsored by the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s patient Web site, People Living With Cancer (www.PLWC.org). The live chat will be Wednesday, July 28, from 1 to 2 p.m. (CDT) on “Understanding Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Myeloma.” The chat will provide patients, family members and caregivers an opportunity to ask questions of experts.
The hour-long question and answer session will address a variety of topics including: symptoms; the role of clinical trials in treatment; late effects of lymphoma treatment; stem cell transplantation and other treatments; new drugs and drug combinations; and the role of gene therapy and vaccines in the treatment of lymphoma.
Members of the public can participate live or log on in advance and submit questions ahead of time. A transcript will be available on the Web following the chat.
UNMC experts who will conduct the chat are: James Armitage, M.D., professor, UNMC Department of Internal Medicine and Joe Shapiro Distinguished Chair of Oncology; Lori Maness, M.D., assistant professor of medicine, UNMC Department of Internal Medicine; and Stefano Tarantolo, M.D., associate professor, UNMC Department of Internal Medicine.
The cancer program of UNMC and its clinical partner, The Nebraska Medical Center, attracts patients from all over the world and is recognized as one the most successful and better known centers in the world, known particularly for its expertise in leukemias and lymphomas. About half the clinical and basic research grants awarded to UNMC are cancer-related. The team performs more transplants for lymphoma than most institutions in the world.
Dr. Armitage is a fellow of both the American and Royal College of Physicians, a member of the National Cancer Advisory Board, and past president of both the American Society of Clinical Oncology and American Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. He serves on the editorial boards of several peer-reviewed journals, and has authored or coauthored hundreds of articles, book chapters, and abstracts.
Dr. Maness is an associate member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Hematology. Her research interests include developing protocols for the treatment of leukemia.
Dr. Tarantolo is a fellow of the American College of Physicians, and a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation, the International Society of Experimental Hematology and the International Immunocompromised Host Society. His primary interest is in the treatment of multiple myeloma, and he has written about these subjects in peer-reviewed journals and textbooks.
Visit the People Living With Cancer Web site (www.PLWC.org) for chat log in details, recommended readings, to submit a chat question, or to request a copy of the transcript. Participants can logon about 10 minutes before the chat starts. The site also includes more information on the UNMC featured experts and additional information regarding the latest advances in clinical cancer research presented at ASCO.