The program will explore breast cancer research and treatment in both North America and Europe in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (celebrated in October in the United States and United Kingdom) and will be broadcast in the United States as well as throughout Europe via World Radio Network (see note at end of release for details).

The broadcast will be the fifth European program in the past year produced by Vital Options® International TeleSupport® Cancer Network in association with Premiere Radio Networks, the largest radio network in the United States. Previous remotes have been broadcast from Hamburg, Germany, London, England and (two from) Paris, France.

"Many breast cancer therapies have been developed by researchers in Europe," said Selma R. Schimmel, Founder and CEO of Vital Options International TeleSupport Cancer Network and host of The Group Room. "Cancer is a global problem and broadcasting from ECCO will give women in both the United States and Europe the opportunity to speak directly to some of the leading breast cancer researchers in the world. The program will also demonstrate the important role of patient advocacy."

Guest panelists will include Prof. Dr. Heinz Ludwig, President-Elect of ESMO; Dr. Charles Balch, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Society of Clinical Oncology; Dr. Timothy G. Cooke, Professor, Department of Surgery, Glasgow University; Prof. Dr. Franco Conte, Head of the Division of Medical Oncology, St. Chiara Hospital, Pisa, Italy; Dr. Paul Goss, Director of the Breast Cancer Prevention Program at Princess Margaret Hospital, United Health Network, Toronto, Canada.

The remote will be produced in collaboration with Radio Marsden-the in-house radio station of The Royal Marsden Hospital in London, England, the world's oldest cancer hospital.

The Group Room airs live every Sunday (4-6 pm ET; 1-3 pm PT), reaching more than half-a-million radio listeners a week in addition to its worldwide web audience, which hears the show simulcast on the Internet at www.vitaloptions.org. Callers can enter discussions by dialing 1-800-GRP-ROOM (1-800-477-7666).

All phone calls to The Group Room are screened by a licensed oncology social worker. During the week, individuals can reach Vital Options for support or to receive more information about cancer resources or stations carrying the broadcast.

Founded in 1983 when Schimmel was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 28, Vital Options was the first organization to address issues related to young adults with cancer before expanding to include issues and information related to everyone touched by cancer. In 2001, Vital Options was officially renamed Vital Options International to reflect its international expansion.

Vital Options International is a not-for-profit cancer communications, support and advocacy organization headquartered in southern California. Vital Options and The Group Room are supported through educational grants from founding sponsor Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and corporate sponsors Ortho Biotech Products, L.P., Pharmacia Oncology and Genentech BioOncology Inc.

This broadcast was made possible through educational grants from Ortho Biotech Products, L.P., and Pharmacia Oncology, the leading sponsors of Vital Options International's growth in the European market.

European Access via World Radio Network Sunday, Oct 21, 21:00-23:00 BST Direct-to-Home Satellite: For the whole of Europe, The Group Room ECCO broadcast can be heard on Eutelsat Hotbird 5, 13 degrees East, Transponder 94, 12.597 GHz, Vertical, Symbol Rate 27.500 Mbaud, FEC 3/4, MPEG2 DVB Audio Stream. Select "Group Room" from the DVB Audio or Radio menu.