Conference 2002 to Educate Patients on Latest Health Care
Conference 2002 to Educate Patients on Latest Health Care
What: Hepatitis Magazine Conference 2002
Editorial Contact: Heather Daigle
When: November 8 and 9, 2002
Where: Houston Marriott North at Greenspoint; Houston, TX
281-272-2744, Ext. 133
info@...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hepatitis Magazine Conference 2002 to Educate Patients on Latest Health Care
Issues
HOUSTON - Hepatitis magazine, in partnership with Hepatitis Support
Association, the American Liver Foundation and the Texas Liver Foundation,
has announced its third annual conference to be held November 8 and 9, 2002,
at the Houston Marriott North at Greenspoint.
Hepatitis Magazine Conference 2002 is a national conference dedicated to
educating hepatitis patients and their families as well as support group
leaders, medical professionals and drug and alcohol counselors. The
conference will offer a variety of informational sessions led by
gastroenterologists, hepatologists and other experts in the hepatitis field
on latest information and medical breakthroughs on this deadly virus.
"We are dedicated to helping hepatitis patients become self-empowered
through their own education," said Barbara Veres, publisher of Hepatitis
magazine.
Hepatitis C, a bloodborne virus that affects an estimated 3.9 million
Americans (1.8 percent of the population), can lead to cirrhosis and liver
cancer. The current FDA-approved treatment option for HCV - pegylated
interferon and ribavirin combo - has a 50 percent success rate in
eliminating the virus and produces harsh side effects in those who take the
medication. Because the success rate is low and the effects are so severe,
many patients opt to not undergo this present treatment. Instead, they
choose to combat their virus with alternative medicine or to wait in hopes
that a treatment currently in the pipeline will make it through all four
stages of clinical trials and into the market.
Hepatitis Magazine Conference 2002 aims to provide a safe and friendly
environment that challenges patients to take control of their own health
care by arming and equipping them with a wide variety of information - not
only the latest medical news but with knowledge of treatment alternatives
and healthy living. Experts in various hepatitis fields will discuss latest
treatments and research on drugs currently in the clinical trial stages and
will also present alternative treatment options such as herbal remedies and
traditional Chinese medicine techniques. Knowledgeable speakers will provide
basic nutrition guidelines for those with liver disease and encourage
attendees with tips for combating treatment side effects such as pain and
depression.
"There were a wide variety of speakers with different information to share.
I didn't realize that there were so many alternative treatments for hep C,"
said Steven Chartaw, a Hepatitis Magazine Conference 2001 attendee. "Many
different topics were discussed and information booths were set up to share
literature relating to hep C. I don't know of any place else I could have
received the breath of specific information on hep C - all the way from
conventional medicine to herbal and alternative treatments."
In a special Thursday-night bonus session, attendees will be encouraged to
participate in small group sessions to share their own experiences either as
a patient or support group leader. In this setting, patients can learn from
one another and provide support and advice for those struggling in their
daily life with hepatitis.
Registration includes two days of informative sessions, a full set of
conference materials, Friday lunch and a Saturday lunch banquet, refreshment
breaks and a one-year subscription to Hepatitis magazine. The
pre-registration conference fee is $95, and on-site registration is $125.
Continuing education credits for nurses counselors will be offered, and
credits for drug and alcohol counselors are pending.
For more information about the conference or to request a complimentary copy
of Hepatitis, contact Heather Daigle at (281) 272-2744, Ext. 133, e-mail
info@..., or write to Hepatitis magazine, 523 N. Sam Houston
Parkway E., Suite 300, Houston, TX 77060.
[[ HEPATI~1.DOC : 3849 in winmail.dat ]]
Heather Daigle
Editorial Assistant
Hepatitis Magazine
523 N. Sam Houston Pkwy. East, Suite 300
Houston, TX 77060
Ph:(281) 272-2744 x133
Fax:(281) 847-5440
www.hepatitismag.com