The event is the first in a series of breastcancer.org-sponsored events for women concerned about breast cancer. The site is being launched today by Marisa Weiss, M.D., an oncologist specializing in breast cancer. June 21 is the summer solstice, the longest day and shortest night of the year. Dr. Weiss said that the website is launching with the midnight conference in order to give women a place to turn when fear is at its worst.
More involved patients make better treatment decisions that improve quality of life.
It gets bigger, it gets smaller, but it never goes away. Dr. Weiss uses the whale analogy to describe the overwhelming intrusion breast cancer can be in a woman's life and in the lives of those who care about her. The content of breastcancer.org is far more substantive than that found on more general healthcare websites. It provides advice concerning treatment decisions as well as the mechanics of breast health management. In the future, the site will provide aids for assessing the incremental risks and benefits of treatment and for improving relationships with doctors to get the best care.