White Plains Hospital to host Pancreatic Cancer Symposium

White Plains Hospital, in partnership with the Lustgarten Foundation, will host its third annual Pancreatic Cancer Symposium Nov. 13 at Gilda’s Club Westchester in White Plains.

The symposium, which is free and open to the public, will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and will educate attendees about the risk factors, early detection options and treatments for pancreatic cancer. The event will feature six speakers from White Plains Hospital including: White Plains Hospital Cancer Center Administrative Director Una T. Hopkins;  Chief of Gastroenterology Charles Noyer; Clinical Nutrition Manager Geralyn Plomitallo; oncology and hematology physician Yael Sadan Zack; Gastrointestinal Cancer Program Leader Joshua Raff and hospital social worker Victoria Assumma.

Lustgarten Foundation Fundraising Operations Senior Coordinator Sharon Sarlson and Gilda’s Club social worker Erica Forest will also speak at the event.

Each speaker will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

“The low survival rates we typically see with pancreatic cancer are probably due in part to advanced stage at presentation,” Raff said. “In addition to better understanding ”” and hopefully targeting ”” the unique molecular framework of these tumors, we believe early detection may be possible, especially for those at elevated risk.”

The Lustgarten Foundation, based in Long Island, works to advance research into pancreatic cancer through funding and other awareness programs.

White Plains Hospital currently offers a Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection Program for those deemed at high risk for the disease.

To register for the event or for more information, contact White Plains Hospital at 914-681-1119.