Recent San Diego meeting?

bejuce · 10-22-2009, 11:05 PM

I saw my surgeon today for a delayed post-op appt. He mentioned to me that he had been out the past few weeks attending several meetings on breast cancer research. He was uncharacteristically positive about the future (especially for a surgeon), saying that a recent meeting in San Diego about the basic biology of tumors had given him much hope, hope that in 10-15 years the disease will be much more controllable than today with better targeted therapies that truly work.

I, unfortunately, forgot to ask which meeting he was referring to. Does anyone know of a recent like conference in San Diego? I'd love to check out the abstracts.

Thanks!

Marcia (bejuce)

Pam P · 10-23-2009, 04:27 AM

10-15 years??? Glad there's hope for future, but we need more breakthroughs now so we can be here in 10-15 years.

Lani · 10-23-2009, 10:12 AM

I attended the San Diego meeting. It was given by the American Academy of Cancer Researchers and was called Advances in Breast Cancer Research

The most interesting talk was given by a researcher from Germany which totally made one rethink the theories of how metastasis occur. Rather than a tumor getting so big that some cells break off and travel around the body his theory of parallel development led to the conclusion that it is IMPERATIVE that bone marrow testing be done and the treatment guided by the characteristics of the bone marrow tumor, not the primary tumor.

After the talks I went home and tried to read all his papers on the subject to digest and process it all and its implications.

Dr. Max Wicha gave a good talk about progress in what is being learned about breast cancer stem cells.

The rest of the talks were good, but not ground-shaking.

Some of the poster exhibitors had some interesting ideas--but overall the meeting was not as innovative as the Era of Hope, AACR annual meeting or 2008 ASCO (I was not at the 2009 ASCO meeting)

chrisy · 10-23-2009, 01:17 PM

Thanks Lani, appreciate your input and study immensely.

Pam - couldn't agree with you more...we need things to move faster so we can stay well enough for long enough..

Nonetheless, I am encouraged that Marcia's doctor is positive about the future. When that happens at ground level in the medical community, maybe it will make "them" think more creatively and more long term... have an expectation that we may survive, and treat us accordingly.

It's a fine point -and maybe a bit "santa cruz", but if the doctors have hope, perhaps that in itself will in some way improve outcomes.

Barbara H. · 10-23-2009, 04:35 PM

Hi,
Last May I attended the conference for patients with metastatic breast cancer at the Dana Farber. It was mentioned that Her2 breast cancer has good chance of being cured or under control in the next ten years. I don't know if that applies to patients that already have mets and it is only a prediction.
Best regards,
Barbara

Cal-Gal · 10-25-2009, 04:57 PM

Thanks Ladies for all this great information---

Why does everything take 10 years??

Many cannot wait for 10 years--how can this work be done and fly at warp speed and break the sound barrier.... to give hope to those of us already diagnosed?

Don't get me wrong---I am thankful that these advances will be made , God forbid that my daughters and granddaughters need it---

But 10-15 years??????

Barbara H. · 10-25-2009, 05:47 PM

I am going to another half day seminar at the Dana Farber this Saturday. I will post any new information that hasn't been addressed on this website.
Best regards,
Barbara

This is just a reminder that you are registered for "An Open Conversation on Metastatic Breast Cancer" with Dr. Eric Winer, Dr. Nancy Lin and Dr. Ian Krop on Saturday October 31, 2009.

Sign-in:
9:30 am
Program time:
9:45am - 12:15pm
Light Refreshments & Networking:
12:15pm
Location:
Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Jimmy Fund Auditorium
44 Binney St, Boston MA

Chelee · 10-25-2009, 06:27 PM

That is not near fast enough for me....we need something now. To be honest...that is just depressing as heck to hear right now with all I have going on...and all the other woman on this board. It's nice to know there will be so much more available in the future...but that sure won't help so many of us that need it now. I would feel alot better if they said 2 to 3 yrs...but 10 or 15...that is a longggg ways away in my world. (I'm having a bad day so forgive me.)

Chelee

Nancy L · 10-25-2009, 06:37 PM

Have you heard if there will be a webcam broadcast of the meeting at Dana Farber on 10/31?

Laurel · 10-25-2009, 06:50 PM

Chelee, consider yourself forgiven. I know you and Pam are really in serious battles at present and that is an all consuming and exhausting position. I do think that 10-15 years is not as painfully slow as it seems on first blush. Remember Herceptin began with clinical trials leading to metastatic patients receiving it liberally and finally a fast track status that made it available in the adjuvant setting. More targeted therapies are coming on line and I believe you will be here to take advantage of them.

The new notion of examining our marrow to see what the ca. cells that are there look like in terms of their genotype is an interesting hypothesis that may mean better use of targeted therapies already here and perhaps a customized combo for your personal cancer attack cocktail! This testing my come into vogue soon in the form of a trial, and perhaps some of us may be eligible to participate! I am so hoping all of our Her2 Support family will be here to see BC conquered!

Barbara H. · 10-26-2009, 04:51 PM

I don't know if their will be a webcam broadcast of Saturday's meeting. However, the spring conference was available last summer.
Best,
Barbara H.

1. The video of our conference HOPE FOR THE FUTURE at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute on May 16 is now posted at www.mbcnetwork.org . The link to the video is on the HOME page. Click the red "More" box next to 2009 Conference to be taken to the video page.