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Conference Details - Overview

School of Breast Oncology 2008

Emory University Conference Center
Atlanta, GA
Nov 6-9, 2008

Conference Overview

Conference Description & Purpose

Over the past decade, an increasing number of oncologists have concentrated their practices on breast cancer, a trend that is growing. In order to advance breast cancer patient care, we have developed an evidence-based curriculum focusing exclusively on breast cancer clinical management. The intensive 4-day educational and interactive School of Breast Oncology (SOBO) will provide a comprehensive review of existing data on the most important aspects of breast cancer biology, diagnostics, prevention, and treatment. The curriculum is evidence based, summarizing the fundamental principles that form the foundation of optimal care and applying that data to patient cases.

Target Audience

This educational program is directed toward medical, radiation, and surgical oncologists who intend to reinforce their knowledge base and expand their expertise in breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and management. Participants will be practicing oncologists or fellows in training who are interested in having a command of the fundamental principles, key published studies, and cutting-edge information on the management of breast cancer. Nurses, physician assistants, and pharmacists in oncology are also invited to attend.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this school, you should be able to:

• Discuss breast carcinogenesis and the impact of germline mutations on patient management
• Discuss advances in breast cancer imaging and early detection, including mammography, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography scanning
• Review the clinical utility and limitations of sentinel lymph node biopsy
• Integrate diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive factors that provide biologic information about breast cancer subtypes into patient management decisions
• Integrate current staging guidelines into clinical decision making regarding local and systemic therapies
• Assess optimal radiation therapy strategies for treatment of patients with ductal carcinoma in situ and early-stage and locally advanced breast cancer
• Critically analyze the data guiding the choice of adjuvant therapies for patients with low- and high-risk breast cancer
• Explore current and emerging strategies for ameliorating or eliminating therapy-associated adverse events
• Assess the evidence supporting an emphasis on quality of life and rehabilitation during and after breast cancer treatment
• Evaluate the evidence-based treatment recommendations for the management of patients with hormone-dependent and hormone-independent metastatic breast cancer
• Evaluate organ-specific therapeutic interventions for patients with metastatic disease to the central nervous system or skeleton
• Integrate palliative care strategies into treatment algorithms for metastatic disease