Main Scientific Program: With seven distinct panels, each dedicated to a specific area of cancer care, the Main Scientific Program clocked an attendance of more than 300 delegates. Renowned national and international faculty members delivered informative and insightful presentations, followed by a Q&A round to share their expertise. Session 1: Gastrointestinal CancerBy exploring real-world case studies, experts extensively discussed the diagnosis, management, and prognostic factors of stomach cancer and delved into the evaluation and outcomes of stomach cancer treatment. Prof Shailesh Shrikhande, Dy Director, TMH, Mumbai highlighted the need for driving excellence in all patients by following the principles of cancer surgery. Session 2: Lung CancerThe panel discussed the modern management of lung cancer, addressing key concepts across a range of clinical scenarios and recent advances in cancer management paradigm. Dr. Sanjay Popat, a globally recognized expert in lung cancer, mesothelioma, and thymus cancer, serving as a Consultant Medical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden, London and Professor of Thoracic Oncology at the Institute of Cancer Research, London delivered an extensive presentation on ‘Delivering excellence in Lung cancer in resource-limited settings: Optimizing current treatment sequencing’. Session 3: Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcoma The discussion focused on a patient with of metastatic Ewing's sarcoma in a young girl, with insights from orthopaedic surgeons, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists from across the country. Session 4: Gynaecological Cancer Through various case studies, the session highlighted that solid cystic ovarian lesions should not be excised laparoscopically due to the risk of upstaging apparent early-stage tumours. Limited visualization with laparoscopic approaches may result in the omission of additional tumour or microscopic spread. Open surgical procedures, such as laparotomy, were emphasized as the preferred method for accurate staging and optimal treatment decisions. Session 5: Breast CancerCase-based discussions and the latest trends in axilla management, such as sentinel lymph node mapping and oncoplastic breast surgery, known to improve the quality-of-life post-surgery in patients were highlighted. The panel also focused on the latest advancements and techniques in breast cancer treatment such as Peritumoral infiltration of local anaesthesia, which has shown to reduce recurrence rates in breast cancer. Session 6: Head and Neck Cancer Real-life case-based discussions, covering topics like locally advanced oral cancer, reconstruction challenges in case of margin positivity, and multidisciplinary approaches for inoperable tumours. Prof Anil D’Cruz, immediate past president of UICC discussed day to day challenges facing clinicians in tackling very advanced stages of oral cancers that Indian clinicians see compared to the west. Session 7: Genitourinary Cancer The session focused on prostate cancer, one of the most prevalent cancers in men, and explored various aspects of prostate cancer management, including imaging, diagnosis, and emerging therapies such as Leutitium-177-PSMA therapy. Attendees gained valuable insights about when, where and what diagnostic and therapeutic tools should be used in cases of prostate cancer. Dr Vedang Murthy, renowned radiation oncologist from TMH, Mumbai gave a fascinating talk on Creating Opportunity from Challenges.
