ASTRO Accepting Survivor Circle Grant Applications

Grant money to help cancer organizations with support needs

FAIRFAX, Va., June 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Society for
Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is now accepting applications for Survivor Circle
grants, which are awarded to non-disease site specific cancer support
organizations located in the state that ASTRO holds its Annual Meeting.
ASTRO's Annual Meeting is in Chicago this year.

The emphasis of this initiative is to provide cancer support organizations
with the funding to assist in continuing, growing or creating programs to help
cancer patients, cancer survivors and their families from diagnosis through
survivorship. A dedicated effort to reach all demographics of cancer patients
in the city/state where the organization is located will be a key component
considered in the review process. An emphasis on helping patients receiving
radiation therapy is preferred, but not required.

"ASTRO is always eager to help patient organizations because they provide a
lot of the support that physicians aren't able to provide," Laura Thevenot,
ASTRO's CEO, said. "Through this program we hope to give back to the community
in which we've chosen to hold our Annual Meeting and provide much needed funds
to help the cancer patients that our physicians work so hard to cure."

Two grants will be awarded in amounts of up to $10,000; they can be used for
local transportation and other support needs, supplies necessary for cancer
support group meetings, welcome kits for new patients/ families seeking
assistance, and/or financial assistance for patients needing help with
transportation or co-payments.

Grant applications are reviewed by a panel of physicians and nurses in the
cities where the meeting is held each year and final approval will be
determined by the ASTRO Board of Directors. The grant money will be awarded
following the ASTRO Annual Meeting.

Applications must be received by August 8, 2009. For more information and to
access the grant application, visit
www.astro.org/Patients/SurvivorCircle/HowToParticipate.

ASTRO is the largest radiation oncology society in the world, with more than
10,000 members who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies.
As the leading organization in radiation oncology, biology and physics, the
Society is dedicated to improving patient care through education, clinical
practice, advancement of science and advocacy. For more information on
radiation therapy, visit www.rtanswers.org. To learn more about ASTRO, visit
www.astro.org.

SOURCE American Society for Radiation Oncology

Beth Bukata, +1-703-839-7332, bethb@astro.org; or Nicole Napoli,
+1-703-839-7336, nicolen@astro.org