When Dr. Dan Granberg, a leading carcinoid and neuroendocrine cancer specialist at Uppsala University in Sweden, joins Dr. Eric H. Liu, Director of the Neuroendocrine Tumor Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, and his colleague Dr. Ronald Walker, Professor of Clinical Radiology and Radiological Sciences at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, patients with lung carcinoid will have the unique opportunity to learn more about their rare cancer in both the clinic setting and during a day-long conference. On Saturday, April 13 the first conference in the United States dedicated to the topic of lung, or bronchial, carcinoid will be held at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tennessee. The conference will feature lectures by experts with overviews of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and bronchial carcinoid, as well as on the specifics of surgery, imaging, pain management, and nutrition. The day’s events will also include an Open Forum with the Doctors, a presentation on patients advocating for themselves, and the first support group meeting of Lovable Lungnoids. During the two days prior to the conference, April 11 and 12, patients will be able to sign up for clinic visits with both Drs. Dan Granberg and Eric Liu.
The conference is sponsored by the Carcinoid Cancer Awareness Network (CCAN) in cooperation with Dr. Eric Liu, and Lovable Lungnoids, an online Facebook group for lung carcinoid patients and their loved ones. Registration is a donation of $20.00 per person and includes a continental breakfast, lunch, snack, and a goodie bag.
Lung carcinoid tumors are uncommon neuroendocrine tumors that grow in the lungs and can be slow growing or aggressive. There are four types of lung neuroendocrine tumors, listed in order from the slowest to fastest growing: typical carcinoid, atypical carcinoid, large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, and small cell lung cancer. According to the latest research, 28% of all carcinoids occur in the lung. Watch the Carcinoid Cancer Foundation’s video about lung carcinoid tumors, including carcinoid/NET specialists and two patients with this rare cancer.
A specialist in endocrinology and internal medicine with over 20 years of experience in endocrine oncology, Dr. Dan Granberg’s special interest is neuroendocrine lung tumors and targeted irradiation therapy. His neuroendocrine tumorpatients come to see him in Sweden from throughout Europe and Asia, the United States, Canada and Australia. His research focuses on bronchial and thymic carcinoids and the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic methods including Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT) and radioembolization. Dr. Granberg wrote his doctoral dissertation on lung carcinoids. His publication credits include more than 30 articles as well as book chapters on bronchial carcinoids and neuroendocrine tumors. Dr. Granberg is Chief Physician, Department of Medical Sciences, Endocrine Oncology at Uppsala University Hospital in Sweden.
Dr. Eric Liu is Director of the Vanderbilt Neuroendocrine Center and Director of Surgical Oncology and Neuroendocrine Surgery. He was recruited to Vanderbilt in 2009 to develop the Neuroendocrine Center, after studying in Sweden with renowned neuroendocrine surgeon Kjell Oberg, MD, PhD, who was perfecting the use of radioactive imaging tracers that offered patients new treatment options, and with Dr. Granberg. Dr. Liu’s clinical interests include all aspects of surgical oncology and endocrine surgery with an emphasis on the treatment of neuroendocrine and carcinoid tumors, gastrointestinal, and endocrine diseases. He actively engages in research, developing new biomarkers and imaging techniques for better diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumors.
A leader on the Vanderbilt Neuroendocrine team, Dr. Ronald Walker serves as the team’s Director of Imaging Services. He is also Professor of Clinical Radiology and Radiological Sciences at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. Dr. Walker’s research focuses on molecular imaging of cancer both to improve early and accurate diagnosis and to provide rapid assessment of tumor biology with physiological imaging. His goal is to use new tools to identify the risk level of a tumor at time of diagnosis, thereby affording up-front treatment decisions that will provide superior, safer and more cost-effective treatment strategies for each patient. Dr. Walker is committed to research that can lead to improvements in medical care that can ultimately benefit patients suffering from cancer.
Hotel accommodations for conference guests are available at the Courtyard Vanderbilt/West End and the Hilton Garden Inn.
For further information and reservations, CLICK HERE or contact the Carcinoid Cancer Awareness Network, 866-850-9555.