Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center Highlights Head and Neck Cancer Patient Care and Research Advances

NJ State Senator Diane Allen to Address Personal Cancer Experiences

PHILADELPHIA – For nearly 20 years, New Jersey State Senator Diane Allen delivered our nightly news on Philadelphia channels CBS3 and then NBC10. For the last 15 years she has served in the New Jersey State Legislature, helping to solve the difficult problems faced by New Jersey residents. She was diagnosed with head and neck cancer nearly a year and a half ago. Her recovery was very public, as her whole life has been. She’s never backed away from a challenge, but found cancer to be the toughest adversary she ever faced. To bring greater awareness to head and neck cancers and support fellow survivors, Allen will address Penn Medicine physicians, patients, and community supporters on Friday, April 8 for Penn’s second annual Focus on Head & Neck Cancers Conference.

Head and neck cancers have been in the spotlight this year with the news that Academy Award-winning actor and producer Michael Douglas has been diagnosed with throat cancer. What many people may not realize are how common these cancers are, with over 50,000 new cases being diagnosed annually in the U.S. each year. The Focus On Head & Neck Cancers Conference will tackle head and neck cancer risk factors, treatment, survivorship, and research advances in the field of head and neck oncology.

Penn experts will address the role of tobacco in head and neck cancers and HPV infection associated with oropharyngeal cancer, in addition to discussing oral cavity and tongue cancer, oropharynx - throat cancer, larynx –voice box cancer, and skull base cancers. Experts will also discuss the latest treatment advances including robotic surgery and proton and photodynamic therapies.

WHAT: Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center Focus on Head & Neck Cancers Free Conference

WHERE:

Hilton Hotel
4200 City Avenue, Philadelphia, PA

WHEN:

April 8, 2011
8:45 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

WHO:

New Jersey State Senator Diane Allen (R-Burlington/Camden), Keynote Speaker – speaking at 9:00 a.m.
Bert O’Malley Jr, MD, Gabriel Tucker Professor and Chair, Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and Co-Director, Penn Medicine Head and Neck Cancer Center

For more information, please see the conference brochure http://www.penncancer.org/pdf/HeadNeckCancer2011.pdf.

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Penn Medicine is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $4.3 billion enterprise.

The Perelman School of Medicine has been ranked among the top five medical schools in the United States for the past 16 years, according to U.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $398 million awarded in the 2012 fiscal year.

The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities include: The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania -- recognized as one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report; Penn Presbyterian Medical Center; and Pennsylvania Hospital -- the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Penn Medicine also includes additional patient care facilities and services throughout the Philadelphia region.

Penn Medicine is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. In fiscal year 2012, Penn Medicine provided $827 million to benefit our community.