Asco update 2009

Registration and hotel reservations are now open—reserve your spot by January 12 to secure the lowest registration rates! As ASCO's foundation, Conquer Cancer raises funds to support scientists who empower patients everywhere by uncovering new treatments across all cancers. The Membership Directory is your go-to tool for finding and interacting with other members.

Stay up to date with the Society's latest news and connect with other members on ASCO Connection , the professional networking site for our worldwide oncology community. Our donors support groundbreaking work wherever it can make a difference—wherever physicians and researchers exchange ideas, and whenever patients and families need answers. Browse the full-text abstracts presented at the Annual Meeting virtually last spring.

Don't miss the latest in ground-breaking cancer research. ASCO's highly valued Clinical Practice Guidelines outline appropriate methods of treatment and care for specific disease-oriented clinical situations or use of approved medical products, procedures, or tests.

ASCO Symposia bring together specialists from around the world to offer educational content and the latest scientific discoveries in the respective fields, while providing ample time for networking and collaboration. ASCO in Action regularly provides the latest information and analysis related to cancer policy news, as well as opportunities to take action on critical issues affecting the cancer community. ASCO brings the best minds in oncology care and research to one location for five days of learning.

Connect with your colleagues, gain insight into the latest treatment strategies and bring the latest in cancer care back to your patients. ASCO Daily News is the official conference reporter for ASCO meetings and symposia, providing high-quality, unbiased research summaries and oncology news to members and oncology health care providers.

ASCO Practice Central helps oncology professionals navigate a complicated and ever-changing practice environment—while providing high-quality patient care. Stay updated on the latest oncology has to offer with ASCO Education—your online, on-demand resource for timely information, real-world application, and practice-changing care. By assembling vast amounts of usable, searchable, real-world data, CancerLinQ seeks to improve the quality and value of cancer care. Net brings the expertise and resources of ASCO to people living with cancer and those who care for and about them to help patients and families make informed health care decisions.

Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation, raises funds to support the world's leading researchers who are improving treatments and discovering cures for every cancer, every patient, everywhere. Raloxifene has a better adverse effect profile than tamoxifen, including a lower risk of thromboembolic disease, benign uterine problems, and cataracts.

Raloxifene can be used longer than five years in women with osteoporosis who could also benefit from breast cancer risk reduction. It is not recommended for use in premenopausal women or those with a history of DVT, pulmonary embolism, stroke, or transient ischemic attack. The risks and benefits of treatment with raloxifene should be carefully considered.

The ASCO does not recommend the use of aromatase inhibitors or retinoids in reducing the risk of breast cancer outside of clinical trials.

All women at risk of breast cancer should be informed about the option to take preventive agents; therefore, risk assessment and communication should be an important part of clinical practice. Risk assessment helps to identify women who are at increased risk of breast cancer and who are more likely to benefit from risk reduction options.

Women should be given a risk estimate, the anticipated benefits and risks of their risk reduction options, and any uncertainties regarding risk prediction. Because the risk of breast cancer increases throughout a lifetime, risk assessment should be done periodically. Risk reduction strategies, including risks and benefits, should be addressed, as well as the possible impact of each chemopreventive agent on the incidence of breast cancer.

During these discussions, physicians should be sensitive to the patient's needs and values. The manner in which risk information is presented can affect how the patient interprets the information. Physicians can provide this information verbally, numerically, or visually, and should provide patients with the risks and benefits in absolute and relative terms to help avoid emphasizing the benefits or harms of treatment options.

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