The conference will take place July 21-24 and will focus on leading-edge information about breast cancer care, and the most promising clinical trials for breast cancer or high-risk patients. Jointly sponsored by the University of Miami School of Medicine and its Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, the conference is supported by the European School of Oncology and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, which also provided an educational grant to Vital Options® to make the broadcast possible.

During the broadcast-taped in Cancun on July 23--host Selma R. Schimmel will be joined by the following panelists:

• Stefan Glück, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine, University of Miami School of Medicine and Clinical Associate Director for the Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute, University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center;
  
• Eli Avisar, MD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, and Co-Leader Breast Site Disease Group, University of Miami School of Medicine;
  
• Gabriel N. Hortobagyi, MD, Professor and Chairman of the Breast Medical Oncology Dept., The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center;
  
• Hyman B. Muss, MD, Professor of Medicine, University of Vermont and Director, Hematology/Oncology, Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington, Vt.;
  
• Martine Piccart, MD, PhD., Head of Chemotherapy Dept., Bordet Institute; Chairwoman, Breast International Group, Brussels, Belgium.

"Participating in The Group Room broadcast will allow us to provide information to a large audience about innovative therapies, and diagnostic tools and concepts that will help improve the lives of cancer patients and their families," said Dr. Gluck, who is one of the conference co-chairs.

"With so many of the leading breast cancer experts gathered together, this is a rare opportunity for our listeners to get important clinical information firsthand regarding all aspects of breast cancer. This taped special is also representative of the important collaborative efforts between the cancer advocacy and medical communities working together to enhance patient communication," said Schimmel, who is also the CEO and Founder of Vital Options International, as well as a breast and ovarian cancer survivor.

"Right now, there are approximately two-million breast cancer survivors in the United States, and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation is committed to providing information about new advances in breast cancer research and treatment to these women and men and their families," said Susan Braun, President and CEO of the Komen Foundation. "We are proud to provide an educational grant to Vital Options to enable The Group Room to broadcast important breast cancer messages from leading experts to more than a half-million listeners."

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was established in 1982 by Nancy Brinker to honor the memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died from breast cancer at the age of 36. Today, the Foundation is an international organization with a network of more than 75,000 volunteers working through local Affiliates and events like the Komen Race for the Cure® to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease. A global leader in the fight against breast cancer, the Foundation fulfills its mission through support of innovative breast cancer research grants, meritorious awards and educational, scientific and community outreach programs around the world.

Vital Options® is an international not-for-profit cancer communications, support and advocacy organization, headquartered in Southern California. It produces The Group Room in association with Premiere Radio Networks. The program airs live every Sunday in cities throughout the United States, reaching more than a half-million radio listeners a week, in addition to others who tune in via XM Satellite Radio Ask! Channel/XM165 or the Internet simulcast at www.vitaloptions.org where past shows are also archived. Callers enter on-air discussions toll-free by dialing 1-800-GRP-ROOM (1-800-477-7666) or sending their comments and questions by email to info@vitaloptions.org.

The show features Schimmel and The Group Room's regular on-air medical experts--medical oncologist Dr. Michael Van Scoy-Mosher, radiation oncologist Dr. Leslie Botnick and therapist Halina Irving, MFCC--who are joined each week by callers affected by cancer, as well as renowned cancer experts and advocates who provide updates on research, medical advances and advocacy efforts. All phone calls are screened by a licensed oncology social worker. During the week, individuals can reach Vital Options for additional support services and information.

Founded in 1983, Vital Options was the first organization to address issues related to young adults with cancer before expanding to include patients of all ages and issues and information related to everyone touched by cancer. The Group Room regularly produces remote location broadcasts from the world's leading oncology meetings, such as the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and its European equivalents, ECCO/ESMO, and from preeminent cancer centers in the United States and Europe.

Vital Options and The Group Room are supported through educational grants from corporate sponsors, Ortho Biotech Products, L.P., and Pfizer Oncology, and associate sponsor, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.