More than 175,000 new cases of breast cancer and 25,000 cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed in American women this year, according to the American Cancer Society.

Although the incidence of these life-threatening diseases is high, UCSF Stanford Health Care women's health experts believe that the more accurate and up-to-date information a woman has about the screening, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer, the better equipped she will be in combating the disease and the fear that surrounds it.

In a conference called, "Taking Charge: A Practical Guide to Women's Cancer For You and Your Family," women's health and cancer experts will discuss information on learning to recognize the risk factors that contribute to an increased risk of cancer; assessing your own personal level of risk; adopting preventive strategies to reduce risk; and learning how to take an active role in dealing with the alternatives of a positive diagnosis.

DATE: October 23, 1999
TIME: 9 am-12 noon
PLACE: Oracle Corporation Conference Center; 350 Oracle Parkway, Redwood Shores, CA
COST: $15
CONTACT: http://cc.ucsf.edu/takecharge/

The conference is hosted by the Obstetrics and Gynecologic Research and Education Foundation of UC San Francisco and the Oracle Corporation.

Note to the media:

Media are invited to attend conference, for more information please call Abby Sinnott in the UCSF News Office at (415) 885-7277.