The BC Cancer Surgery Network is committed to continuous practice improvement through educational activities and events.
Each year the network develops, organizes and hosts a medical education program profiling a specific area of cancer surgery and care. These all day courses, called the Spring Update, are fully accredited by the Division of Continuing Professional Development at the University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine. Featuring expert speakers, the Spring Update is designed to improve surgical oncology practice and knowledge by providing the most current information in the field.
Thursday, April 30, 2026.
Register for the 2026 Spring update
Join us April 30th for the 2026 Spring Update, which will provide insights into breast sarcoma and proliferated breast lesions, and surgical oncology emergencies. The update will be hosted in-person at the The Fairmont Chateau in Whistler, BC. This year's event will be held in collaboration with the BC Surgical Society Annual Spring Meeting. View the full 2026 Spring Update agenda (PDF).
(Until March 31.)
Book your hotel room
Spring Update 2025: Management of regional nodes and updates on rare cancers: what do I need to know?
Once again, the Surgery Network held the update in the Spring. This event was hosted in person at the Laurel Packinghouse, in Kelowna.
See the program for the 2025 Spring Update (PDF).
Spring Update 2024: Colorectal, breast and sarcoma personalized cancer care and skin cancer updates
Once again, the Surgery Network held the update in the Spring. This event was hosted in person at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, and online via Zoom.
View the program for the 2024 Spring Update (PDF).
Spring Update 2023: Palliative oncology and geriatric care
Once again, the Surgery Network held the update in the Spring. This event was hosted in person at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, and online via Zoom.
View the program for the Spring Update 2023 (PDF).
Spring Update 2022: Colorectal and breast cancer
This year the Surgery Network transitioned the update to the Spring, and continued to host it virtually via Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
View the program for the 2022 Spring Update (PDF).
Fall Update 2020: Cancer and beyond
This year the Surgery Network hosted the surgical oncology Fall Update virtually via Zoom on October 17th due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
See the program for the 2020 Fall Update (PDF).
Fall Update 2019: Management of not-so-rare cancers
The 2019 Fall Update: Management of not-so-rare cancers conference was held on Saturday October 5 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver. This year’s course focused on a mix of topics including upper GI, skin and sarcoma tumours. View the schedule for the 2019 Fall Update (PDF).
Presentation PDFs
Fall Update 2018: Head and neck endocrine tumours
On October 13th 2018 we held another successful Fall Update on surgical oncology. This year's topic was head and neck endocrine tumours. View the 2018 Fall Update program (PDF).
Presentations PDFs
Fall Update 2017: Colorectal cancer
Fall Update 2016: Management of pancreas, liver, melanoma and breast cancers
The Fall Update on Breast, Melanoma and HPB Cancers was held on Saturday October 22, 2016 in Vancouver, BC.
The Surgical Oncology Network was pleased to host its annual Fall Update, a full-day course, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver on October 22. This year’s CME accredited conference focused on current breast, melanoma, and HPB cancer management. The program included presentations from visiting speakers Dr. Greg McKinnon (breast and melanoma) from Calgary and Dr. Alice Wei (HPB) from Toronto, as well as many local experts.
Fall Update 2015: GI tract cancers
Fall Update 2014: Breast cancer
On October 18 2014, the SON hosted another successful Fall Update in downtown Vancouver at the Four Seasons Hotel. This year's event focused on breast cancer, specifically current controversies in 2014. View the 2014 Fall Update program (PDF).
Presentations
- Dr. J.F. Boileau, surgical oncologist, Montreal: Current management of the axilla in breast cancer focusing on current indications for axillary node dissection and management of the patient with a positive sentinel node (PDF)
- Dr. Rebecca Warburton, breast surgeon, Mt. St Joseph: The new ASCO guidelines regarding margin recommendations for breast conserving surgery (PPT)
- Dr. Malcom Hayes, senior BC Cancer Vancouver breast pathologist: The pathological basis of breast carcinoma (PPT)
- Dr. Michelle Goeke and Dr. Elaine McKevitt: Current BC breast cancer quality indicator data and discussed current quality indicators in surgical breast cancer care (PPT)
- Dr. Christine Simmons, medical oncologist, BC Cancer: The current status of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAT) (PPT)
- Dr. Lorna Weir, radiation oncologist, BC Cancer Vancouver: Current radiotherapy issues for breast cancer care (PPT)
- Dr. Frances Wright, surgical oncologist, Toronto: Surgical management in the setting of neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) (PPT)
- Dr. Christine Wilson, BC Cancer radiologist: Screening mammography controversies, inc. overdiagnosis in breast cancer, and the availability of communication materials for helping women make informed decisions (PPT)
Fall Update 2013: Endocrine surgical oncology
This year's meeting focused on endocrine cancers. On November 2, 2013, BC Surgical Oncology Network hosted its Annual Fall Update.
This one day course featured multiple topics in endocrine surgical oncology. Below are the presentations and their authors from the meeting.
Presentations
- Dr. Todd McMullen: Work Up & Evaluation of Thyroid Nodules In 2013: State of The Art
- Dr. Blair Walker: Thyroid Cytopathology: Weighing in the Bethesda System
- Dr. Cord Sturgeon: Recurrent Thyroid Cancer: Detection, management, prevention
- Dr. Sam Wiseman: Vessel Sealing Technology For Thyroid Surgery: Current evidence
- Dr. John Hay: Adjuvant Therapy Of Thyroid Cancer in 2013
- Panel 1: Case Discussions: Panel chair: Dr. Chris Baliski. Panel members: Dr. Don Anderson, Dr. John Hay, Dr. Todd McMullen, Dr. Cord Sturgeon, Dr. Blair Walker, Dr. Sam Wiseman
- Dr. Adrienne Melck: Adrenal Incidentaloma: evidence-based management
- Dr. Cord Sturgeon: Guidelines for Parathyroidectomy: Are they too strict?
- Dr. Todd McMullen: Surgical Management of Hyperparathyroidism in 2013: Is there an ideal approach?
- Dr. Nadine Caron: Complications Of Thyroid & Parathyroid Surgery: Approach & treatment
- Panel 2: Case Discussions: Panel chair: Dr. Andy McFadden. Panel members: Dr. Nadine Caron, Dr. Noelle Davis, Dr. Todd McMullen, Dr. Adrienne Melck, Dr. Cord Sturgeon, Dr. Ehud Ur, Dr. Sam Wiseman
Fall Update 2012: Lower GI tract
Fall Update 2011 - From Uncommon to Common
On October 22, 2011, BC Surgical Oncology Network hosted its Annual Fall Update. This one day course featured multiple topics in surgical oncology. Below are the presentations from the meeting.
Dr. Chris Baliski
Dr. Carl Brown/Dr. Elaine McKevitt
Dr. Rona Cheifetz
Dr. Paul Clarkson
Dr. Alexandra Easson
Dr. Urve Kuusk
Dr. Lloyd Mack
Dr. Lloyd Mack
Dr. Andrew McFadden
Dr. Elaine McKevitt
Dr. Jennifer Telford
Fall Update 2010 - Upper GI Cancers
The Surgical Oncology Network hosted a one day conference on Upper GI and Hepatobiliary Cancers at the Four Seasons Hotel on October 23, 2010. Below are the presentations from the meeting.Dr. Abdul Al-Tourah
Dr. Silvia Chang
Isolated Liver Mass: Imaging and When to Biopsy
Dr. Rona Cheifetz
Dr. Rob Granger
- Metastasis to the Liver and Unknown Liver Mass
Dr. Calvin Law
Pancreatic Conundrums, Benign and Malignant
Dr. Howard Lim
Dr. Greg McGregor
Dr. Charles Scudamore
Dr. Carol Swallow
Surgery of Gastric Cancer and Premalignant Lesions
Dr. Jennifer Telford
Fall Update 2009 - Breast Cancer
The Surgical Oncology Network hosted a one day conference on Breast Cancer at the Four Seasons Hotel on October 24, 2009. Below are the presentations from the meeting.
Dr. Tanya Berrang
Dr. Katherine Ceballos
Dr. Rona Cheifetz
Dr. Noelle Davis
Dr. Susan Ellard
Dr. Karen Gelmon
Dr. Urve Kuusk
Dr. Peter Lennox
Dr. David McCready
Dr. Geoffrey Porter
Dr. Audrey Spielmann
Dr. Scott Tyldesley
Dr. Lorna Weir
Dr. Christine Wilson
Percutaneous Stereo Core Biopsies: When, How and Often
Fall Update 2008 - Rectal Cancer Update
Rectal Cancer Update
The Surgical Oncology Network hosted a two day conference on Rectal Cancer Update: The Last 5 CM -- Distal TME and Beyond at the St. Paul's Hospital on October 24 and 25, 2008.
Presentations
Dr. Akasu, Takayuki
Dr. Brown, Carl
Dr. Brown, Jacquie
Dr. Garcia-Aguilar, Julio
Dr. Hay, John
Dr. Kennecke, Hagen
Dr. Phang, Terry
Dr. Raval, Manoj
Dr. Smith, Andy
Fall Update 2007 - Endocrine Surgical Oncology
Endocrine Surgical OncologyOn October 27, 2008 the Surgical Oncology Network hosted a one day education conference on Endocrine Surgical Oncology at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel in Vancouver, BC.
Presentations:
Dr. Sam Bugis
Dr. Chris Baliski
Dr. Barbara Melosky
Dr. Sabrina Gill
Dr. Rob Irvine
Chair: Dr. Nadine Caron, Members: Dr. Sam Wiseman, Dr. Rob Irvine, Dr. Orlo Clark, Dr. Sam Bugis
Dr. Orlo Clark
Dr. Tom Thomson
Dr. Rick Nason
Dr. John Hay
Dr. Sam Wiseman
Thyroid Cancer: Practical Molecular Biology For the General Surgeon
Chair: Dr. Sam Bugis, Members: Dr. Sam Wiseman, Dr. Rick Nason, Dr. Orlo Clark, Dr. Tom Thomson
Fall Update 2006 - Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
The Surgical Oncology Network hosted a one day conference on Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy at the Plaza 500 Hotel on Vancouver on November 24th, 2006
Presentations
Fall Update 2005 - Proximal GI Cancers
The SON hosted a one day conference on Proximal GI Cancers on December 3rd, 2005. The following are copies of the presentations. Please click on the title of the presentation to open the PDF file.
Dr. Greg McGregor
Dr. David Huntsman
Dr. Alan Weiss
Dr. John Yee
Dr. Michael Humer
Dr. Carol Swallow
Dr. Barb Melosky
Panel Discussion
Fall Update 2004 - Breast Cancer
This session was held as part of the 2004 BC Cancer's annual conference and was hosted by the Surgical Oncology Network on Saturday, November 27.
The presentations and results from the pre and post test are available below.
Dr. Steven Latosinsky
Dr. Allen Hayashi
Dr. Noelle Davis
Dr. Michelle Sutter
Dr. Urve Kuusk
Dr. Lorna Weir
Dr. Maureen Leia-Stephen
Dr. Peter Doris
Dr. Rona Cheifetz
Pre and Post Test
Questions and Answers
Results
Terms of use
Presentations from previous Fall updates are made available on this website for information purposes only. Please note that all presentations represent the opinions of the speakers at that time, and viewers should review endorsed cancer surgery guidelines when making patient decisions.
Any clinicians consulting these presentations are expected to use independent medical judgment in the context of individual clinical circumstances to determine patient care or treatment. Use of this site and any information on it is at your own risk, and is subject to the BC Cancer
terms of use.
