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Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2011

International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma Starts June 23

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation’s annual International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma is scheduled for June 23-25, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC.  The three-day conference is for the entire mesothelioma community, including patients, their families, caregivers and advocates.  The conference offers an opportunity for attendees to have their voices heard on Capitol Hill as they advocate for an asbestos ban and for additional funding for mesothelioma research.

Mesothelioma is a rare, incurable form of cancer primarily caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers that is diagnosed in close to 3,000 Americans each year.  Although mesothelioma can be treated with varying degrees of success with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, there is still no known cure for the disease.  The prognosis for mesothelioma patients is usually grim with an average survival time varying from 4 – 18 months after diagnosis.

The primary theme for the Symposium this year is: Connect, Discover, Empower with those key words encouraging the community to take charge of their treatment, education and experience.  The Foundation’s website lists the theme as:

Connect with patients, family members, scientists, advocates, and others committed to curing mesothelioma, and explore your own mind-body connection through expertly-led healing art sessions.

Discover in-depth mesothelioma science — learn from world-renowned experts about treatments such as intracavitary chemotherapy for pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma, gene therapy and immunotherapy.

Empower yourself with knowledge and a network of peers and experts!

Sessions this year include topics by renowned mesothelioma experts such as David Sugarbaker, MD of Brigham and Women’s Hospital.  Session include:  Experimental Strategies in Malignant Mesothelioma, Global Perspectives in Malignant Mesothelioma and National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank.

See Meso Foundation’s website for more information and to and register for the conference.