8:15 a.m.

Oncoplastic Breast Surgery: Barriers, Outcomes and Education, Jessica Maxwell, MD
Oncoplastic surgery is an important consideration in all breast cancer surgeries. The primary goal of surgery in the treatment of breast cancer is always disease eradication, but oncoplastic surgery can help minimize the physical effects and improve the aesthetics of the surgery.

Dr. Maxwell will discuss the range of techniques now possible in oncoplastic breast surgery, from simple and functional to complex and cosmetic. She will discuss when oncoplastic surgery is indicated, and the benefits that can be realized when providing this very individualized care to breast cancer patients.

Learning objectives:

• Describe the principles of an oncoplastic approach to breast-conserving surgery.
• Differentiate between standard lumpectomy and oncoplastic lumpectomy.
• Recognize the importance of oncoplastic surgery in breast cancer care and survivorship.

9:00 a.m.

CAR T-cell Therapy in Hematologic Malignancies: Does Triumph Trump Toxicity? Matthew Lunning, DO
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has become a very promising therapy in the treatment of select hematologic malignancies. However, CAR T-cells are associated with unique, acute, even fatal toxicities that require detailed monitoring and specialized management.
Dr. Lunning will discuss some of the potential toxicities seen in patients receiving CAR T-cell therapy. He will review recommendations for monitoring, grading, and managing these acute toxicities, including the use of interleukin-6 antagonist when indicated.

Learning objectives:

• List three toxicities associated with CAR T-cell therapy.
• Identify three recommended baseline tests/assessments to be done prior to CAR T-cell infusion.
• Outline key assessments that should be part of routine patient monitoring after CAR T-cell infusion.
• Describe the management of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and other organ toxicities during CAR T-cell therapy.

10:30 a.m.

Pancreatic Cancer: Advances in Detection and Treatment, Kelsey Klute, MD; Chi Lin, MD; and Quan P. Ly, MD
Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. with a median survival measured in months. This panel, consisting of members of the Gastrointestinal Multidisciplinary Clinic, will discuss the advances, challenges, and barriers to screening, early detection, and effective treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Learning objectives:

• List three risk factors that would indicate pancreatic cancer screening is appropriate.
• Describe advances in chemotherapy, targeted therapy, surgical intervention and radiation therapy treatment for pancreatic cancer.
• Recognize the impact of an experienced multidisciplinary team approach in creating a comprehensive treatment strategy for pancreatic cancer.

1:00 p.m.

Ethical Considerations: Medical Marijuana, Physician-Assisted Suicide and Cancer Pain Control During an Opioid Epidemic, R. Greg Bociek, MD
Physicians encounter ethical challenges in day-to-day practice. Established ethical principles, legal ramifications, and patient factors all contribute to the decision-making processes surrounding treatment, continuation of treatment, and end-of-life care. These topics are increasingly being covered through media exposure, chat rooms, blogs and an increasing pool of “Internet experts.” Dr. Bociek will discuss some of the current social issues that are creating or influencing ethical decision making and the care being provided to patients with cancer.

Learning objectives:

• Distinguish between legal and ethical issues when considering advocating the use of medical marijuana for cancer-related symptom control.
• Examine issues related to a cancer patient’s request for a physician’s aid in dying.
• Describe strategies to ensure opioids are prescribed and used safely for cancer-related pain control despite concerns with issues of addiction, abuse, and misuse.

2:15 p.m.

Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) in the Older Adult, Vijaya Bhatt, MD, and Thuy Koll, MD
The incidence of most hematologic malignancies, such as acute myeloid leukemia, increases with age. Allogeneic HSCT provides a life-prolonging or potentially curative treatment option for patients with hematologic malignancies. Due to high transplant-related toxicity, this treatment strategy was initially restricted to younger patients. However, studies are supporting the use of HSCT as a feasible, safe and effective therapy for select older adults.

Drs. Bhatt and Koll will review current studies supporting the role of HSCT in older adults, the evaluation of older transplant candidates and ways to identify those patients at increased risk for transplant-related toxicity. They will discuss how adjustments to the intensity of the conditioning regimen and advances in supportive care can make HSCT a viable treatment option for this population.

Learning objectives:

• Identify indications for HSCT in older adults.
• Discuss transplant-related toxicities in older adults.
• Highlight the value of timely referral of older adults with hematologic malignancies to a transplant center.
• Analyze the reason for a low rate of utilization of HSCT in older adults.
• Recognize the improvement in outcomes of older transplant recipients in more recent years.
• Describe the relevance of identifying comorbidities prior to HSCT in older adults.
• Understand the significance of multidisciplinary management of older transplant recipients.

3:15p.m.

The Good, The Sad, The Ugly, The Beautiful: Having Meaningful End-of-Life Discussions, Melissa Teply, MD
Effective, meaningful end-of-life discussions create a shared understanding of the patient’s values and preferences that can lead to a plan of care respectful of those values and preferences. However, treatment of both the physical and psychosocial aspects of cancer can pose enormous challenges to the communication skills of health care professionals.

This session will review the importance of effective communication in the treatment of cancer, therapy-related symptom management and in patients’ treatment decisions. Barriers to communication and strategies to improve crucial conversations will also be discussed.

Learning objectives:

• Describe the benefit of effective communication and improved symptom control in palliative care.
• List the key components of discussing end-of-life care with patients and families.
• Identify barriers and challenges to successful end-of-life conversations.
• Adopt strategies for improving end-of life-conversations.