August 12, 2023: Stomach Cancer Educational Symposium
Host: Debbie’s Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer and Moffitt Cancer Center
Moffitt Cancer Center Magnolia Campus | Tampa, Florida
Description:
Debbie’s Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer and Moffitt Cancer Center hosted a free Stomach Cancer Educational Symposium on August 12, 2023, bringing together experts across multiple disciplines to provide patients, caregivers, families, and health care professionals with comprehensive education on gastric cancer. The hybrid event was held at Moffitt Cancer Center’s Magnolia Campus in Tampa, Florida, with virtual participation available for those unable to attend in person.
Chaired by Rutika Mehta, MD, MPH, a gastrointestinal medical oncologist at Moffitt Cancer Center specializing in esophageal and gastric cancers, the full-day program addressed the continuum of gastric cancer care, from diagnosis and treatment to nutrition, supportive care, symptom management, and survivorship.
Featured presentations included:
- Role of Endoscopy in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastric Cancer — Shaffer Mok, MD
- Minimally Invasive Surgery and Postsurgery Care — Jose Pimiento, MD
- Systemic Therapy for Gastric Cancer — Bushra Shariff, MD
- New Trials in Gastric Cancer — Rutika Mehta, MD, MPH
- HIPEC in Gastric Cancer — Sean Dineen, MD
- Radiation in Gastric Cancer — Russell Palm, MD
- Genetics in Gastric Cancer — Andrew Sinnamon, MD, and Laura Barton
- Patient Experience — Yoli Day and Pamela Hall
- Importance of Nutrition in Gastric Cancer — Jeanine Milano
- Supportive Care in Cancer — Sahana Rajasekhara, MD
- Integrative and Functional Medicine — Liem Le-Lau, DAOM
- Interventional Radiologist’s Perspective in the Management of Gastric Cancer Patients — Nainesh Parikh, MD
- Management of Side Effects for Gastric Cancer Patients — Chandler Diedrich and Tammy Lee
The symposium also incorporated interactive breakout groups, giving attendees opportunities for more focused discussion with specialists in surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, endoscopy, genetics, nutrition, supportive and integrative care, nursing, and other areas.
Importantly, the program incorporated the patient voice alongside clinical expertise. DDF Mentor and stomach cancer survivor Yoli Day and fellow survivor Pamela Hall shared their experiences with gastric cancer, helping connect the clinical information presented throughout the symposium with the realities of diagnosis, treatment, recovery, and survivorship.
