Annual Education Day Features National Expert on Genetic Links to Cancer

Cincinnati—Cancer is a disease no one wants to hear or think about. But the fact is more than 1.4 million people will be diagnosed with some form of cancer in 2008—including nearly 57,000 from Ohio.

As scientists and clinicians continue to improve cancer early-detection and treatment methods, the best thing the rest of us can do is equip ourselves with knowledge.

Anyone interested in learning more about cancer prevention, detection and treatment should plan to attend the fourth annual University of Cincinnati (UC) Community Cancer Education Day.

Hosted by the UC Barrett Cancer Center at University Hospital, the event takes place Saturday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at University Pointe,

The event, which is free and open to the public, is designed to give the community the most current information available about the possible causes, risk factors, screening recommendations, treatment options and outcomes for all types of cancer.

“This is an event for anyone whose life is touched by cancer—whether you’re fighting a personal battle against the disease, providing care to a loved one or simply evaluating your risks,” says William Barrett, MD, UC’s director of radiation oncology and chair of the event.

In addition to self-guided information booths and video presentations, attendees can have their questions answered one-on-one with local oncologists and researchers.

Attendees can also hear from a world-renowned expert on genetic links to cancer. Henry Lynch, MD, of Creighton University, is recognized widely as one of the fathers of cancer genetics. He will give a keynote address at Cancer Education Day at 10 a.m.

Lynch is best known for his work identifying hereditary links to cancer of the breast and colon. Hereditary cancers can be passed down through families in specific genes.

During the 1960s, when cancer was considered an almost solely environmentally caused disease, Lynch demonstrated Mendelian inheritance patterns for a previously unrecognized form of colon cancer (hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, now known as Lynch syndrome), and for the hereditary breast-ovarian cancer syndrome, which he subsequently helped link to the genes used to identify high-risk breast cancer patients—BRCA1 and BRCA2.

In addition, Lynch published some of the first findings of hereditary malignant melanoma and the familial aspects of prostate and pancreatic cancer. His work has enabled physicians to more quickly and accurately identify high-risk patients, leading to earlier and more effective surveillance, management and treatment. 

For more information on Cancer Education Day, call (513) 584-9097 or visit www.uccancereducationday.org. Registration is not required, but requested.