Conference Agenda

1:30-2:15 PM — SESSION FOUR

4.1. Vermont Cancer Center Tour - Session 4 & 5

Please join the Vermont Cancer Center (VCC) for a behind the scenes tour of our cancer care facilities and cancer research laboratories. This is a special opportunity to see and hear about the cutting-edge research and care being carried out at the VCC, which spans from the University of Vermont College of Medicine research facilities to the Fletcher Allen clinics: with tour guides who are at the very forefront of Vermont's cancer initiatives.

The shuttle will leave the Sheraton at 1:30 to take you to your drop off point (Fletcher Allen or UVM College of Medicine).

4.2. Gene-Environment Interactions and the Development of Cancer
Barry Finette, MD, PhD (Nursing Contact Hours)

The link between exposure to environmental toxic agents and cancer risk has been well established. Yet to date, how and why exposure to genotoxic agents causes normal cells to become malignant cells is still to a great extent unknown. This talk will discuss some of the ways exposure to environmental chemicals may lead to cancer in children and adults and some of the experimental approaches that are used to study these events. In addition, this talk will describe how infants and children are more susceptible to exposure to environmental genotoxic chemicals and why exposure early in life may result in a higher risk for cancer as a child as well as an adult.

4.3. Adjuvant Therapy: New Developments
Johannes "Chris" Nunnink, MD (Nursing Contact Hours)

Dr. Nunnink will present an informal discussion of the new developments in adjuvant therapy. Bring your questions.

4.4. Dietary and Lifestyle Factors Influencing Breast Cancer Risk
Kim Dittus, MD, PhD (Nursing Contact Hours)

This session will include a review of lifestyle factors including nutrition, exercise, and avoidance of toxic substances and how they relate to breast health and breast cancer prevention.

4.5. Reading Your Pathology Report
Donald Weaver, MD

The pathology report is a medical report that many cancer survivors never read, but it contains significant information and would be helpful to understand. This report tells the size of the tumor, the type of cells that are cancerous, and the number of lymph nodes that are involved. It is very helpful in helping direct the type of treatment that will be needed.

4.6. Just Say No to Pain! Minimizing the Impact of Pain in Breast Cancer Treatment and Beyond
Zail Berry, MD, MPH (Nursing Contact Hours)

The best-informed patients are the most successful in managing disease and its treatment. In that spirit, this discussion will seek to empower participants through discussion of management strategies to control pain, both pharmacologic and otherwise.

4.7. Share Your Story
Facilitators: Margie Cole, MSW and Sally Mattson, MA

Share Your Story sessions are informal, each with a facilitator. What has cancer taught you? Do you have some encouragement for fellow travelers on this cancer journey? Come and share, for 2-3 minutes, your words of wisdom, spiritual gifts, advice for patients, and lessons for health care providers; or simply come and listen. You may also post your entire story on the conference Web site. See the Share Your Story section for instructions.

4.8. Vermont Lymphedema Network

Session for Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists.

4.9. Vermonters Taking Action Against Cancer (VTAAC)
John Olson, MEd

Vermont's second strategic State Cancer Plan was published in 2005. Come hear and talk about priorities set — and progress made — towards cancer prevention, early detection, access to treatment, and quality of life issues for cancer survivors. VTAAC is a statewide partnership of more than 140 individuals, professionals and organizations working together to reduce the impact of cancer on all Vermonters.

4.10. Cancer as a Spiritual Event
Facilitator: Robert Macauley, MD

A diagnosis of cancer can lead to a journey of spiritual soul searching. Dr. Bob Macauley, a physician and ethicist at Fletcher Allen and spiritual community leader, will be facilitating this interfaith panel discussion. Persons of all beliefs are encouraged to participate in open discussion about faith and the cancer experience.

4.11. Take Time to Laugh: It's the Music of the Soul with Medical Benefits
Sister Pat McKittrick, RN

In this interactive session, we will look at the importance of choosing happiness and experiencing joy in our daily lives. We will also discover the benefits of humor in the healing process.

4.12. COFFEE CHAT - Floating in the Embrace of Cancer
Cat Bordhi

Although it may seem that trusting and embracing cancer would leave you undefended and more vulnerable, the opposite is true. Visualizations are a powerful way of aligning yourself with the innocent and tender heart of cancer. We will talk about how to use them to allow you to float in cancer's embrace.

4.13. COFFEE CHAT - Long-Term Follow-Up of Breast Cancer Survivors
Suzanne Baran, APRN

This coffee chat will focus on the follow-up after the initial period of surgery and additional treatment are completed. What to expect with frequency of appointments, testing, mammograms, etc. Why your schedule and follow-up may be different from a neighbor's or friend's schedule. A chance to ask questions.

4.14. Yoga Session

These yoga classes are designed for women with cancer and can be adapted to the physical needs of each participant. Healing Yoga is part of a Mind/Body approach to healing and can ease both physical and emotional pain. It can foster a sense of calm and control during a cancer journey that can at times be stressful and seem out of control. Participants can sit in a chair or lie on a mat in whatever position is most comfortable to get the soothing and relaxing help that comes with meditation and deep breathing. Yoga sessions capped at 15 participants. Sessions taught by various instructors.

4.15. Fly Casting Workshop &mdash Casting for Recovery

This workshop takes place in the parking lot. Please meet near the Registration Table.

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Barry Finette, MD, PhD

Barry Finette is a Pediatric Critical Care Physician at Fletcher Allen and Professor of Pediatrics, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at the UVM College of Medicine and a member of the VCC. Since 2000, Dr. Finette has been on the President's Task Force on Environmental and Safety Risks to Children. In 2002, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund honored Dr. Finette with the prestigious Clinical Scientist in Translational Research Award.

Johannes "Chris" Nunnink, MD

Johannes "Chris" Nunnink is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the UVM College of Medicine and is an attending physician at Fletcher Allen. He sees patients at the Vermont Center for Cancer Medicine.

Kim Dittus, MD, PhD

Kim Dittus is a Hematology/Oncology fellow at UVM and Fletcher Allen. She plans to pursue an academic medical career with a research focus on mechanisms by which exercise may prevent cancer recurrence and improve survival.

Donald Weaver, MD

Donald Weaver is a pathologist/ attending physician at Fletcher Allen, and a Professor at the UVM College of Medicine. Dr. Weaver's current research focuses on the prognostic significance of occult micrometastases in sentinel lymph nodes from breast cancer patients enrolled in a large cooperative group trial (NSABP B-32). He also studies population-based pathology outcomes in breast cancer surveillance through mammography and image-based screening.

Zail Berry, MD, MPH

Zail Berry is an internist, geriatrician, and palliative medicine specialist providing home medical care to persons with serious illness in Chittenden County. She serves as Co-Medical Director of the Hospice of the Champlain Valley and is Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the UVM College of Medicine.

Margie Cole, MSW

Margie Cole is a member of the board of the VT-NH affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and is chair of the Education Committee. She is a social worker employed at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in the Breast Care Center.

Sally Mattson, MA

Sally Mattson is a licensed Vermont psychologist practicing in Brattleboro. She is a breast cancer survivor and is currently writing a book of narratives based on her interviews with breast cancer survivors.

John Olson, MEd

John Olson coordinates Vermonters Taking Action Against Cancer, a statewide partnership of 140+ individuals, organizations and professionals that created Vermont's second strategic plan for cancer prevention and control. Previously, he was the Director of Education at Vermont CARES in Burlington.

Robert Macauley, MD

Robert Macauley is Medical Director for Clinical Ethics at Fletcher Allen and the UVM College of Medicine.

Sister Pat McKittrick, RN

Pat McKittrick is a registered nurse at Fletcher Allen. She coordinates the Health Ministries Program and recognizes the importance of healing body, mind and spirit.

Cat Bordhi

Cat Bordhi is a former middle school teacher, a novelist, fiber artist, and publisher, and is known in the knitting community as a teacher, writer, and designer who encourages innovative, independent exploration and creative confidence.

Suzanne Baran, APRN, BC

Suzanne Baran is a Nurse Practitioner at the Breast Care Center at Fletcher Allen. Her role is post treatment surveillance of women who have had breast cancer. In addition, she works with women who are at increased risk for developing breast cancer.

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