American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, Gilda’s Club Denver Join to Promote Cancer Survivorship

WASHINGTON -- As part of an initiative to give back to the cancer communities in the cities visited during its annual scientific meetings, the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) is partnering with the Gilda’s Club Denver to raise awareness of cancer survivorship.

Volunteers from Gilda’s Club will join forces with ASTRO by participating in the Survivor Circle exhibit at ASTRO’s 47th Annual Meeting, scheduled for October 16-20, 2005, at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. The Survivor Circle was created to recognize and honor those who are living with a diagnosis of cancer. This year, it will focus on the programs offered by Denver-area cancer organizations to help patients and their families cope with this disease. Within the Survivor Circle, there is a place for visitors to learn more about Gilda’s Club Denver, the programs it will provide and to make donations. One hundred percent of all donations collected will be given to support cancer programs in the Denver area.

“We are excited to work with such a well-established, nationally recognized organization,” said Prahbakar Tripuraneni, M.D., President of ASTRO. “Every day, Gilda’s Club Denver provides cancer patients with information on treatment options and other issues so they can make the best decisions for themselves and their families. By joining together, we hope to raise funds for their important programs while educating our members on the important work this group does on behalf of people living with a diagnosis of cancer.”

“Gilda’s Club Denver is honored to be part of the Survivor Circle at ASTRO’s Annual Meeting in Denver,” said Carol Thurber, Gilda’s Club Denver’s co-founder and board president. “The opportunity to help spread the word about Gilda’s Club to the international audience is very exciting. The support of those who attend the meeting will help assure that the Denver clubhouse -- a place for patients and their families to rest while undergoing treatment -- is up and running soon.”

ASTRO is the largest radiation oncology society in the world, with more than 8,000 members who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. As a leading organization in radiation oncology, biology and physics, the Society is dedicated to the advancement of the practice of radiation oncology by promoting excellence in patient care, providing opportunities for educational and professional development, promoting research and disseminating research results and representing radiation oncology in a rapidly evolving socioeconomic healthcare environment. The ASTRO Annual Meeting typically draws nearly 10,000 healthcare professionals and exhibitors.

Gilda’s Club Denver is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide meeting places where men, women and children living with cancer and their families and friends, can join with others to build social and emotional support as a supplement to medical care. Gilda’s Club offers support and networking groups, lectures and workshops and social events in non-residential homelike settings free of charge to anyone living with cancer.

For more information on Gilda’s Club Denver, please attend the ASTRO Annual Meeting October 16-20, 2005, at the Colorado Convention Center or visit their Web site at http://www.gildasclubdenver.org/. For more information on ASTRO, please visit http://www.astro.org.

Contact Information

Beth Bukata

Media Contact

American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology

Contact via E-mail