University Medical Center to host Free Town Hall on Breast Health & Cancer on September 16

NEW ORLEANS, LA – On Saturday, September 16, University Medical Center (University Medical Center) New Orleans’ Cancer Center will host “A Town Hall on Breast Health & Cancer,” a free event featuring a wide array of topics across many areas of breast health from diagnosis to survivorship. The event will take place in the University Medical Center Conference Center from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is open to the community and will include a complimentary breakfast.

Attendees will meet experts in the field of breast health, learn about the latest diagnostic and treatment options, hear from breast cancer survivors, gain insight into the role played by diet and nutrition and learn more about the comprehensive breast health services available at University Medical Center.

“With this event, we want to reach those most in need of our services, with a focus of improving patient access to the comprehensive services we offer in the Breast Health and Cancer Program at University Medical Center,” said Adam Riker, MD, FACS, LSU Health New Orleans and Oncology Service Line Director at University Medical Center. “Ultimately, we want to provide the community with the tools to ensure their breast health and, should they need treatment, to make an informed decision about the best options available to them.

Doors will open at 8 a.m. on the day of the event for registration, followed by breakfast and a cooking demonstration.

The program will feature the following interactive discussions:

• Diet, Nutrition, Environmental, and Consumer Product Dangers and Awareness
  • Moderators: Laura Kerns, Caroline Smith, and Adam Riker, MD
• Cancer Survivorship and Navigating the Journey of Breast Cancer
  • Moderators: Delia Young, Kara Levine, Caroline Smith, David Brandt, and Michelle Loch
• General Breast Health and Ask the Doctors about Breast Cancer
  • Moderators: Adam I. Riker, MD; Jyotsna Fuloria, MD; Ellen Zakris, MD; and Charles Dupin, MD
• It Takes a Team: From the Patient’s Perspective through Survivorship.
  • Moderators: Brooke Morrell, MD; Adam I. Riker, MD; Alix D’Angelo, MD, Hugo St. Hilaire, MD; Agustin Garcia, MD; and Jill Vincent, MD

About one in eight women in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer during her lifetime, and New Orleans has one of the highest breast cancer death rates in the state, according to the Louisiana Breast and Cervical Health Program. The Cancer Center at University Medical Center New Orleans works to shed light on this disease by offering the community breast health and cancer tools, education, and services beyond the month of October.

“Louisiana has some of the highest incidences for cancer in the nation, with one of the highest rates for later-stage cancer diagnosis. The Town Hall on Breast Health is another method for us to provide education and increased awareness to our community,” said David Brandt, University Medical Center Cancer Center Director. “Our Cancer Center strives to provide to our local, regional, and national communities the highest quality care and the most compassionate, comprehensive, and multidisciplinary, patient-centered approach to cancer care for all our patients.”

University Medical Center’s Comprehensive Breast Health Program is is a multidisciplinary team comprised of physicians and other specialized healthcare providers, including nurses, physician assistants, social workers, and nurse navigators, who specialize in the comprehensive management of patients with all of the breast diseases, both benign (non-cancer issues) and malignant (breast cancer).

University Medical Center partners with LSU Health New Orleans to offer a comprehensive approach for patients, from diagnosis to recovery.