Healthcare providers from West Virginia and surrounding region learn latest approaches in cancer treatment at annual conference

Nearly 200 physicians, physician assistants, pharmacists, nurses, and other healthcare providers from West Virginia University and the surrounding region participated in the 27th Annual Fall Cancer Conference “Translating Personalized Medicine into Cancer Care” at Erickson Alumni Center in Morgantown on October 6.

The conference, sponsored by the WVU Cancer Institute, WVU School of Medicine, WVU Medicine and the WVU Office of Continuing Education, was an opportunity for different disciplines to learn about new cancer drugs and approaches that are continually changing in cancer care to improve patient outcomes and save lives.

“We want practitioners to know about the latest advancements so they can provide patients the best possible treatment,” WVU Cancer Institute Director Richard Goldberg, MD, said.

Deborah K. Mayer, PhD, director of cancer survivorship at Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center in North Carolina, told participants that a lot of progress has been made in cancer care, which leads to more survivors. “By 2040 there will be an estimated 26 million cancer survivors, and 73% of them will be 65 and older.”