The Group Room(R)cancer radio talk show to air live from CHEST 2003, Sunday, Oct. 26, in Orlando, FL

The radio show, which is sponsored by The CHEST Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the ACCP, will address the latest detection and treatment advances in lung cancer and will include an update on the ACCP Lung Cancer Guidelines released in January 2003. The show will also be simulcast live on the Internet at www.vitaloptions.org and on XM Satellite Radio, the ASK! Channel 165. Callers can enter discussions toll-free by dialing 1-800-GRP-ROOM (1-800-477-7666) or send their comments and questions by email to info@vitaloptions.org.

"It is a privilege for The Group Room to be broadcasting live from the CHEST 2003 annual meeting. This collaboration with The CHEST Foundation will allow us to maximize our audience reach and further support our mutual efforts and goals of providing firsthand clinical information from some of the world's leading lung cancer experts," said Selma R. Schimmel, Founder and CEO of Vital Options® International.

Joining Ms. Schimmel, who is also the host of The Group Room, will be contributors to the Lung Cancer Guidelines and Fellows of the ACCP (FCCP) in Hour 1: Curtis Sessler, MD, FCCP, Program Chair of the CHEST 2003 Meeting, Professor of Medicine with the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA; Gene Colice, MD, FCCP, Professor of Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine, Director, Pulmonary, Critical Care and Respiratory Services, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, Vice Chair and Editor of the "Follow-Up and Surveillance" chapter of the ACCP Lung Cancer Guidelines, American College of Chest Physicians; and M. Patricia Rivera, MD, FCCP, Associate Professor of Medicine, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, Editor of the chapter on "Diagnosis" of the ACCP Lung Cancer Guidelines; and in Hour 2: Frank Detterbeck, MD, FCCP, Associate Professor of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, and Director of the Multidisciplinary Oncology Program, University of North Carolina, School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, Editor of the chapters on "Invasive Staging" and "Special Treatment Issues" of the ACCP Lung Cancer Guidelines; Mark A. Socinski, MD, FCCP, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Clinical Research, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and Director of the Multidisciplinary Conference on Thoracic Oncology and Editor of chapter on "Chemotherapeutic Management of Stage IV NSCLC" of the ACCP Lung Cancer Guidelines; and Lary Robinson, MD, FCCP, Director, Division of Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida and Editor of the chapter on "Treatment of Stage IIIA NSCLC" of the ACCP Lung Cancer Guidelines.

"We are pleased to be a sponsor of this special broadcast of The Group Room because this live discussion will not only help to bring the latest research findings related to lung cancer directly to those affected by this disease but also give them the opportunity to directly call in to the program and ask their questions," said Diane Stover, MD, FCCP, President of The CHEST Foundation.

The Group Room airs live every Sunday in select cities throughout the United States, reaching more than a half million radio listeners a week, in addition to others who tune in via XM Satellite Radio or the Internet simulcast at www.vitaloptions.org where the show is also archived.

The show features Ms. Schimmel and The Group Room's regular on-air medical experts––medical oncologist Dr. Michael Van Scoy-Mosher, radiation oncologist Dr. Leslie Botnick and therapist Halina Irving, MFCC––who are joined each week by callers affected by cancer, as well as renowned cancer experts and advocates who provide updates on research, medical advances, and advocacy efforts. All phone calls are screened by a licensed oncology social worker. During the week, individuals can reach Vital Options for support or to receive more information about cancer resources or stations carrying the broadcast.

Founded in 1983 when Ms. Schimmel was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 28, Vital Options® was the first organization to address issues related to young adults with cancer before expanding to include patients of all ages and issues and information related to everyone touched by cancer. The Group Room regularly produces remote location broadcasts from the world's leading oncology meetings, such as the annual American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and its European equivalents, ECCO/ESMO, and from preeminent cancer centers in the United States and Europe.

The ACCP represents more than 15,700 members who provide clinical respiratory, critical care, and cardiothoracic patient care in the United States and throughout the world. ACCP's mission is to promote the prevention and treatment of diseases of the chest through leadership, education, research, and communication. Founded in 1996, The CHEST Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the ACCP and focuses on education and disease prevention in four key areas: tobacco cessation and prevention, asthma management, end-of-life issues, and awards for research and community service. By giving life to projects in local communities and across the world, with special emphasis to those who can least afford it, The CHEST Foundation enables the ACCP to realize its vision of being the leading resource for the improvement in cardiopulmonary health and critical care worldwide.

Vital Options and The Group Room are supported through educational grants from founding sponsor Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and corporate sponsors Ortho Biotech Products, L.P., and Pfizer Oncology. The live remote broadcast from the American College of Chest Physicians CHEST 2003 has been made possible through additional support from The CHEST Foundation.