GASCO’s San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium review meeting always a success

On Jan. 12 in Atlanta, 115 physicians and other medical professionals from all over Georgia attended the Georgia Society of Clinical Oncology’s (GASCO) annual review of highlights from the San Antonio Breast Symposium. “Several physicians labeled it one of their favorite clinical meetings each year for getting information immediately relevant to their practice,” said Karen M. Beard, CPC, CHCC, GASCO Director.

Dr. Hillary Hahm, president of GASCO, opened the meeting followed by speakers including Dr. Ruth O’Regan, Director of Translational Breast Cancer Research, professor and Vice-chair of Educational Affairs at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University; Mylin Torres, M.D., Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University; Mary Cianfrocca, D.O., Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center; Stefan Gluck, M.D., University of Miami, School of Medicine; and Amelia Zelnak, M.D., Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University.

Over lunch, some participants joined a Breast Cancer Genomics Forum which focused on genomic issues in breast cancer from the viewpoints of the physician, nurse navigator, genetic counselor and researcher in providing the best education and care to patients. The discussion was led by Alice Kerber, RN, MN, AOCN, APNG, ACNS-BC: Clinical Nurse Specialist, Oncology and Advanced Practice Nurse in Genetics and featured Dr. O’Regan and Kimberly Lewis, MS, Genetic Services Coordinator with Georgia CORE. According to the participants, the discussion was lively and presented the many facets of detecting patients in a high risk group and counseling them about genetic testing, surveillance and treatment.