Debbie's Dream Foundation's 1st Chicago Stomach Cancer Education Symposium & Webinar, Featuring Distinguished Line-Up of Medical Professionals

CHICAGO, Oct. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- A panel of leading oncologists and healthcare experts will join Debbie's Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer (DDF) on Saturday, November 7, 2015 for the first Chicago Stomach Cancer Education Symposium and Webinar in Chicago, IL. The Symposium, supported by Boston Biomedical and Lilly Oncology, will begin at 9:00 AM CT and is free to the public. Patients, families, caregivers, and healthcare professionals are invited to learn about current best practices and cutting edge gastric cancer treatment options, including pain management and palliative care, clinical trials, genomics, diagnosis and staging, survivorship and goals of care, non-surgical treatment decisions, surgical treatment options, standards of care, and hopes for the future. Participants have the option to attend the lectures in person or via an international interactive live webcast. The lectures will also be archived on the Debbie's Dream Foundation website at www.DebbiesDream.org. Participants can sign up for this event at http://www.DebbiesDream.org/portal/chicago-symposium.

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The panel of distinguished medical professionals include:

• Al B. Benson III, MD, FACP, FASCO of Northwestern University
• Daniel Catenacci, MD of University of Chicago
• Barbara H. Jung, MD of University of Illinois Chicago
• Sheetal M. Kircher, MD of Northwestern University
• Mary F. Mulcahy, MD of Northwestern University
• Judith Paice, PhD, RN of Northwestern University
• Mitchell C. Posner, MD, FACS of University of Chicago

Linda Grush, M.S., DDF Illinois Chapter President stated, "A sense of community and establishing relationships with other stomach cancer patients and treatment providers are essential to the fight of a stomach cancer patient. The symposium provides an avenue for such connections and access to vital decision-making information."

"As a stomach cancer patient and survivor, I believe that it is important that patients, families and caregivers have face to face interactions with and guidance from stomach cancer experts," said Debbie Zelman, President & Founder of DDF. "In addition, I am so proud of our Illinois Chapter for spearheading the first Debbie's Dream symposium outside South Florida."

ABOUT DEBBIE'S DREAM FOUNDATION: CURING STOMACH CANCER (DDF)

DDF was founded in 2009 by Debbie Zelman after she was diagnosed with stage IV incurable stomach cancer in 2008 and given only weeks to live. Zelman immediately began to educate herself about this disease and to seek the best available care. When she responded favorably to her treatment, Debbie founded DDF, which now has 29 chapters throughout the United States, Canada, and Germany and a Medical Advisory Board of 30 renowned doctors from across the country. Now, seven years later, Debbie is still receiving chemotherapy and is thrilled to be able to watch her three children grow up.

Debbie's Dream Foundation is committed to raising awareness about stomach cancer, providing funding for research, and helping to provide education and support to patients, families, and caregivers around the world. The disease is estimated to be the fourth most common cancer worldwide and the second leading cause of death among cancers. Eighty percent of stomach cancer patients are diagnosed at stage IV, and those who are diagnosed with stage IV have a four percent chance of being alive in five years.

The organization is the leading 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to raising international awareness about stomach cancer, advancing funding for research, and providing education and support to patients, families, and caregivers. Debbie's Dream Foundation seeks as its ultimate goal to make the cure for stomach cancer a reality.

Media Contact:

Adriana Bates
Communications Coordinator
Debbie's Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer
(954) 475-1200
Email
www.DebbiesDream.org

SOURCE Debbie's Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer