Apollo Proton Cancer Centre conducts 2nd edition of breast oncology annual conference

Chennai: Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, (APCC), the first Proton Therapy Centre in South Asia & the Middle East conducted its second edition of the Breast Oncology Conference virtually. The theme of the conference this year, was Breast Cancer Treatments – Expanding Horizons.

It was convened by members of the Breast cancer management team Dr. Manjula Rao – Consultant Breast Oncoplastic Surgeon, Dr. Sapna Nangia – Senior Consultant Radiation Oncology, Lead HnN, Breast, Gynae, and Dr. Bhawna Sirohi – Senior Consultant & Lead, Medical Oncology.

Preetha Reddy Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals opened the meeting with a statement encouraging the doctors, and appreciated the theme of 'expanding horizons'. Mr. Harshad Reddy, Director - Operation, APCC, welcomed the gathering with his opening address on day 2, and spoke of the importance of a healthy debate and dialogue amongst oncologists regarding latest developments in the field. He also applauded the efforts of the doctors in making the best of cancer care available to patients at Apollo Proton Cancer Centre.

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The conference also witnessed the launch of The Relationship & Intimacy Clinic, at APCC. The clinic was launched virtually by Guest of honour Padmashree Prof. Dr. Rajendra Badwe, Director, Tata Memorial Centre. The other guest of honour was Prof. (Dr.) G. K. Rath Director National Cancer Institute, Jhajjar Chief Radiologist and Professor, Head Dept of Radiation Oncology, Dr. BRA Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, New Delhi.

The conference also saw international speakers Mr. Venkat Ramakrishnan, Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Head of the Breast Reconstruction Service, St. Andrews Centre for Plastic Surgery, Chelmsford, UK, Dr. Rachel Jimenez, Associate Program Director, Harvard Radiation Oncology Residency Program, Boston, MA, USA, Dr. Raghavan Vidya, Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon, Royal Wolverhampton Hospital & Spire Little Aston Hospital, Birmingham, UK, Dr. Regis Resende Paulinelli, Mastology, Breast Oncoplastic Surgeon, Federal University of Goias & Araujo Jorge Hospital, Goiania, Goias, Brazil, Dr. Apurna Jegannathen, Clinical Oncologist, University Hospital of North Midlands & The Nuffield Health North Staffordshire Hospitals, UK, Mr. Sankaran Narayanan, Consultant, Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon, University Hospital, North Staffordshire, UK, Dr. Giuseppe Curigliano, Professor, Medical Oncologist, University of Milano & HOD, Early Drug Development, European Institute of Oncology, Italy.

Dr. Manjula Rao – Consultant Breast Oncoplastic Surgeon and cancer management team at Apollo Proton Cancer Center said, "The objective of this conference was to share insights and discuss newer concepts in breast oncology, learn novel tricks and offer tips in breast surgery, critique, and debate and deliberate over emerging molecules, radical surgical approaches and latest technologies of radiation delivery to guide professionals in their routine clinical applications from the leading oncologist from the world. The Breast cancer management team at Apollo proton Cancer Centre, are motivated by the positive response, and are already at work on the third edition of the meeting, to be held in 2022".

Breast Oncology is a rapidly evolving field. As we come to understand the biology of Breast cancer a bit better with every passing day, it has led to exciting novel developments in medical, radiation and breast surgical oncology, further enriching our treatment armamentarium! With an array of new surgical techniques being described, a smorgasbord of new drugs appearing on the horizon on a regular basis, and exciting new technologies and regimens coming to the fore, it is now more imperative than ever, that we look at these new developments with a critical eye, and choose wisely, while tailoring treatments apt for the patients

More than 300 faculty participated in the program were amongst the best in the field, both national, and international. The response from the oncological community was encouraging, appreciative, and there was a good dialogue and interaction that occurred during the meeting.

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