International Mammography Expert Dr. Laszlo Tabar to Keynote the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Breast Health Symposium in Orange County

“Many Faces, One Voice” Breast Health Symposium to address breast health issues of Orange County’s diverse communities

COSTA MESA, Calif., February 5, 2008 – Internationally renowned mammography specialist Professor Laszlo Tabar, M.D. from Sweden will give the keynote address at the 2008 Komen Breast Health Symposium, presented by the Orange County Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure on Saturday, March 8, at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel in Anaheim.

Breast cancer survivors, advocates and the medical community will gather for an inspiring day of presentations, exhibitions and educational sessions covering the latest advances in breast health and cancer treatment, as well as strategies for coping with the many physical and emotional effects of the disease.

Aptly named “Many Faces, One Voice,” the annual Symposium is open to the public and provides comprehensive and innovative breast health education in support of Orange County’s diverse communities. Underwritten in part by MemorialCare Medical Centers, the event features breakout sessions geared for community members and a continuing education track for doctors, nurses and other health professionals.

“Our annual Symposium is a dynamic and empowering event that reaches into every facet of the community to offer cutting-edge clinical information for breast health providers and relevant tools for survivors, caregivers and advocates,” said Lisa Wolter, executive director of the Komen Orange County Affiliate. “Encouraging constant discussion about the issues is vital because it gets us closer to finding a cure and ending breast cancer forever.”

Keynote speaker Dr. Tabar will address the latest advances in breast imaging; Dwight Randle, PhD, senior scientific advisor at Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s national headquarters in Dallas, is the luncheon speaker.

For the first time, the Symposium will offer continuing medical education (CMEs) credits for physicians and continuing education units (CEUs) for other health professionals. Topics qualifying for CMEs and CEUs include “Latest in Breast Cancer Treatment,” “Cultural Competency,” “Interaction, Communication and Care,” and “Tumor Board Review: Complex Cancer Case” (moderated by Dr. Tabar).

Topics are tailored for survivors, advocates and caregivers, and cover the cancer spectrum from prevention to treatment and social support. Areas of focus will include basic risk-prevention steps with a breast self exam tutorial, being mindful of “Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyle,” addressing coping strategies like “Caregiver and Familial Issues” and engaging discussions such as “The Role of Faith and Spirituality” and “Sexuality and Breast Cancer.”

The Breast Health Symposium is one of the Komen Orange County Affiliate’s largest and most significant educational events that take place throughout the year. Through year-round fundraising efforts such as Pink Tie Ball® and Race for the Cure®, the Komen Orange County Affiliate alone has raised more than $18 million in the fight against breast cancer. Seventy-five percent of revenue goes to local community programs, including the Symposium, while 25 percent funds the national Komen Award and Research Grant Program.

Many Faces, One Voice: 2008 Breast Health Symposium will take place Saturday, March 8 at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, 1600 South Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, Calif. Registration and a continental breakfast begin at 7 a.m. Welcome and opening remarks will start at 8 a.m., and breakout sessions will commence at 10 a.m. and continue through 12:45 p.m. The Symposium closes with an awards luncheon at 1 p.m., featuring Dr. Randle’s presentation. The registration fee is $40, continuing education units are $60, and continuing medical education units are $100. Scholarships are available to cover the costs associated with attending the Symposium. Funds to provide scholarships have been made available by California State University, Fullerton. Call 714-957-9157 to register or request a scholarship. For more information, visit www.komenoc.org.

ABOUT SUSAN G. KOMEN FOR THE CURE®
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Through events like the Komen Race for the Cure, nearly $1 billion has been invested to fulfill that promise, making Komen for the Cure the world’s largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to fighting breast cancer.

For more information on the Orange County Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, please visit www.komenoc.org or call 714-957-9157

ABOUT MEMORIALCARE
MemorialCare, a nationally recognized, not-for-profit health system with hospitals in Los Angeles and Orange County, is known internationally for pioneering efforts in diagnosing and treating breast cancer patients and improving the health and well being of individuals, families and communities through innovation and the pursuit of excellence. MemorialCare includes Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, Miller Children's Hospital Long Beach, Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center in Fountain Valley, and Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in Laguna Hills and San Clemente. MemorialCare Breast Centers diagnose and treat more breast cancer patients than any breast cancer program in California and was named on the top of the list of Self magazine’s “America’s Best Breast Centers.” For more information contact Rhoda Weiss at 562-335-6332 or rweiss@memorialcare.org