ADVISORY/Palo Alto Medical Foundation Schedules Media Open House to Showcase New Technology for Treating Cancer.

News/Assignment Editors and Medical Writers

ADVISORY...for Friday (Nov. 2)

--(BW HealthWire)

What:   While the world is waiting for a miracle drug to cure
        cancer, tremendous progress is coming from an unexpected
        direction. A new ultra-precise radiation therapy made possible
        by a "smart" beam targets cancer cells while sparing
        surrounding healthy tissue, greatly improving patients'
        chances for cure while reducing side effects and
        complications. This new treatment, IMRT (intensity modulated
        radiation therapy) is now available at Palo Alto Medical
        Foundation, and will be showcased at a Media Open House. IMRT
        has already made a tremendous difference in the lives of the
        few who have had access to it, but the vast majority of cancer
        patients have yet to find out about it. Everyone needing to
        make choices about cancer treatment, including over 130,000
        people each year in California, needs to know about this
        development.

When:   Friday, November 2, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Where:  Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Radiation Oncology Department,
        Level A 795 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Who:    Gordon Ray, M.D., head of PAMF's Department of Radiation
         Oncology
        Richard M. Levy, Ph.D., President and CEO of Varian Medical
         Systems, Inc.
        George Rugtiv, MD, patient treated for prostate cancer with
         IMRT
        Other clinicians and medical physicists from the PAMF

        Guests will receive a tour of the facility.

RSVP:   Members of the media planning to attend are asked to RSVP by
        contacting Donna Cumming at 650/614-3287.