--MEDIA ALERT--

Editor’s Note: High resolution medical illustrations depicting the various stages of breast cancerare available (for media use) at www.plwc.org/breast.

As part of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is working to increase public understanding of this disease that affects more than 200,000 women each year in the United States. ASCO’s President, Gabriel N. Hortobagyi, MD, a world renowned breast cancer expert, will answer questions during a live chat scheduled for October 11, 2006 from 2:00 to 3:00 PM (EDT).

Honored four times for setting the standard of excellence by the Marketing Association’s WebAwards since its launch in 2002, ASCO’s consumer website, People Living With Cancer (www.plwc.org) will host this online forum. Questions may be submitted anonymously, and Dr. Hortobagyi will respond to as many questions as possible during the hour. Topics may include:

• Lifestyle changes to reduce breast cancer risk
• Early detection
• Symptoms of breast cancer and breast cancer recurrence
• Making treatment choices
• Managing symptoms and side effects
• Chemoprevention and preventive surgery
• Living with advanced breast cancer
• Understanding the genetics of breast cancer

Questions may be emailed in advance, and a transcript of the forum will be available on plwc.org the following day. The breast cancer section of the site also contains oncologist vetted info on risk factors, prevention, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, side effects of treatment, and questions to ask the doctor.

Dr. Hortobagyi has been treating breast cancer patients for more than 30 years. In addition to his role as ASCO’s President, Dr. Hortobagyi serves as Chair of the Department of Breast Medical Oncology and is also a Professor of Medicine at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, positions he has held since 1983 and 1985 respectively.   He also holds the Nellie B. Connally Chair in Breast Cancer and serves as Director of the Multidisciplinary Breast Cancer Research Program.

Dr. Hortobagyi is Chair of the Data and Safety Monitoring Committee of the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project, Chair of the Health Advisory Board of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and a member of the Board of Governors of the International Association of Breast Cancer Research. He is a past member of the Board of Directors of the American Society of Breast Diseases and served as Chair of its Membership and Nominating Committees. He was a member of the Board of Directors and President of the International Society of Senology and a member of the U.S. National Committee for the International Union Against Cancer.

People Living With Cancer (www.plwc.org) is the award winning patient website of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. PLWC contains accurate, timely, and oncologist-approved information about 120 types of cancer and cancer-related syndromes. Information on certain types of cancer is also available in Spanish. An Editorial Board comprised of more than 150 medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists, oncology nurses, social workers, and patient advocates oversees the content on the site.