MINNEAPOLIS/ST.PAUL (March 7, 2006) – Survivors of childhood cancer age 16 and older, parents of cancer survivors, and health-care providers who work with survivors of childhood cancer are invited to the educational event Beyond the Cure.

This free all-day event will be held April 8 at the University of Minnesota McNamara Alumni Center, 200 Oak St., S.E., Minneapolis.

The event is the first in Minnesota to bring together national and local experts to provide educational information about issues many childhood cancer survivors face – medical effects later in life, learning challenges, infertility problems, and relationship difficulties. The event also will be an opportunity for survivors to share their experiences and talk with the experts. Health-care providers and families will learn about the newest research and methods for helping survivors improve the quality of their lives.

“Tremendous progress has been made in the treatment of childhood cancer. Most children diagnosed with cancer today are expected to live and become long-term survivors,” said Daniel Mulrooney, M.D., University of Minnesota cancer specialist and moderator of the educational event.

“While this is wonderful, estimates suggest that between 60 and 70 percent of childhood cancer survivors will develop one or more late effects as a result of their disease or prior treatment, and recent research by University of Minnesota cancer physicians and researchers shows that about 20 percent of childhood cancer survivors report some type of physical problem as a result of their treatment,” he said.

Mulrooney directs the University of Minnesota Physicians' Long-Term Follow-Up Clinic, one of few in the United States designed to evaluate and treat childhood cancer survivors who have medical problems later in life.

The University has been an international leader in developing new treatments to save the lives of children with cancer, as well as leading the effort in a national childhood cancer survivor research study sponsored by the National Cancer Institute.

“This educational event is part of our efforts to address issues faced by survivors,” Mulrooney said.

In addition to Mulrooney, presenters at the educational event will be:

• Keynote speaker Kevin Oeffinger, M.D., Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, speaking about “Living Well after Cancer.”
• University of Minnesota pediatric oncologist Joseph Neglia, M.D., discussing “Understanding Risk,” and bone marrow transplant specialist Scott Baker, M.D., “Long-Term Medical Issues.”
• University of Minnesota and Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota psychologists Fiona Anderson, Ph.D.; Bonnie Carlson-Green, Ph.D.; and, Alicia Kunin-Batson, Ph.D., discussing “Learning Issues After Cancer Treatment: Strategies and Interventions.”
• Minnesota native Scott Burton, author, humorist, and cancer survivor, talking about the human side of the cancer battle.

Organizers of this educational event are the Twin Cities leaders in childhood cancer research and treatment – University of Minnesota Physicians' Masonic Cancer Clinic; University of Minnesota Cancer Center; University of Minnesota Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Fairview; Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota; and, Care Partners of the Children's Cancer Research Fund. These institutions have partnered with The National Children's Cancer Society to present this event; Beyond the Cure is a program of the N.C.C.S.

A ttendance is limited and reservations are required. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. For more information and to register, call 1-888-CANCER MN (888-226-2376) or visit www.cancer.umn.edu.

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The University of Minnesota Cancer Center is located at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. It is designated by the National Cancer Institute as a comprehensive cancer center. For more information about the Cancer Center and cancer, call 1-888-CANCERMN (1-888-226-2376) or email ccinfo@umn.edu

Media Contact: Mary Lawson, Public Relations Director, University of Minnesota Cancer Center, 612-624-6165, 612-363-6971 (cell), mlawson@umn.edu.