National Cervical Cancer Coalition To Host First Annual Cervical Cancer And Human Papillomavirus Conference In Washington D.C.

Main Category: Cervical Cancer / HPV Vaccine
Also Included In: Conferences
Article Date: 28 Aug 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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The National Cervical Cancer Coalition (NCCC) takes its message of prevention through education to Washington, D.C. as it hosts the First Annual Cervical Cancer/Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Conference, September 13 to 15, 2007. Taking place at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill, the NCCC's main goal for the conference is to empower women and provide them with the information and tools they need to start a grass-roots level campaign within their own communities.

Here in the United States, cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer in women under the age of 45. More than 14,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year and more than 3,900 women will die from this devastating disease. In developing nations, cervical cancer remains the number-one cause of cancer related deaths, with an estimated 493,000 cervical cancer cases being diagnosed each year, accounting for more than 85 percent of new diagnosis. Of those 493,000 cases, an estimated 273,500 women will die from this preventable disease.

The two-day conference is designed to connect women from across the nation that have either been affected by the disease or who are survivors, with access to the latest research, education and prevention information surrounding HPV and cervical cancer, including lectures and workshops conducted by some of the leading researchers in the field. A few of the conference presenters include: Juan Felix, M.D., chair, department of pathology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California; Cornelia Trimble, M.D., of The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Research center at John Hopkins; Laila Muderspach, M.D., chair, department of obstetrics and gynecology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California.

"At this conference there will also be a 'great debate' about the importance of mandating the cervical cancer/HPV vaccines in schools," said Allan Kaye, chair of the board of the NCCC. "The women at this event will vote on this and hope to have their voices heard."

Some of the conference topics include:

-- The Natural History of HPV/Cervical Cancer

-- Cervical Cancer Detection Methods

-- HPV/Cervical Cancer Vaccines

-- Therapeutic HPV Vaccine Trials -- Including Other Treatments for Cervical Cancer

-- Treatment Options after We're Told, It is Cancer!

-- The GREAT DEBATE - Should the Cervical Cancer/HPV Vaccine Be Mandated in Schools?

Attendees will also be given the opportunity to share their opinions and feelings about various topics presented by participating in "real-time response" using a special signaling device to answer questions posed by speakers during the conference. Results will be broadcast immediately, providing insight into the groups general feelings, as well as how receptive they were to the information presented.

About National Cervical Cancer Coalition

Proud to be celebrating its 10 year anniversary, the National Cervical Cancer Coalition (NCCC) is the nation's oldest non-profit organization exclusively focused on working with women and family members and friends that are battling issues related to cervical cancer and HPV disease. To directly support these initiatives, the NCCC launched an online cervical cancer/HPV site at http://www.cervicalcancer.clinicalhealth.com, as well as created cervical cancer quilts that travel the nation to help place a personal face on the battle against cervical cancer.

In addition, the NCCC has a comprehensive, award-winning informational Web site where visitors can find the latest cervical cancer/HPV information, as well as the NCCC Health Hews section that provides current information on cervical cancer. For people looking for support, the site also provides access to the PhonePals program, designed to match women together that are battling the same stage of cancer.

National Cervical Cancer Coalition
http://www.nccc-online.org