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Posted on Thursday, Feb 7, 2013

Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation Gears Up for Annual Symposium in March

The staff at the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation is stepping into high gear in preparation for its 10th annual Meso Foundation Symposium. The Symposium, scheduled March 7-8 in Las Vegas, is an opportunity for the entire mesothelioma community, including patients, their families, caregivers and advocates, to come together to network and to learn the latest mesothelioma news. The primary theme for the Symposium this year is “’All in’ for a cure.”

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 Meso Foundation is the only national, non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure for the deadly disease. The annual Symposium is extremely important for bringing the mesothelioma community together in one place each year.

“Connecting with the community and sharing stories made me realize two things,” said Erica Ruble, Fundraising Coordinator of the Meso Foundation who lost her father to mesothelioma five years ago, of the importance of attending the Symposium. “First, I am NOT alone. Second, we CANNOT give up. We have to keep fighting for not only those who are sick but also for ourselves.”

The symposium gives face-to-face time for people from so many backgrounds. The Meso Foundation staff hopes the Symposium will empower patients, researchers and physicians alike by offering them a venue to meet and interact with those representing the various aspects of the disease. Rare diseases, such as mesothelioma, are very isolating, and the symposium is an opportunity to get people together to let them know they are not alone in their journey.

For the first time ever, leaders from the pharmaceutical industry will be on hand to present information about new mesothelioma drugs in the works and to meet mesothelioma patients and their physicians. Other topics, according to the agenda posted online, include news from the genetics front, novel research findings overview and a legislative update.

Educational grants for the symposium were provided by Belluck & Fox, LLP, Morphotek, Lilly and others.

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

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Nancy Meredith is a blog and web content writer with more than 20 years of professional experience in the Information Technology industry. She has been writing about Mesothelioma for 4 years. Follow Nancy on Google+