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Surgeons, oncologists, drug company representatives, research advocates and patients with their families attended the 11th Annual International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma recently held in Virginia. Organized by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (“Meso Foundation”) the symposium covered a wide range of mesothelioma-related topics from cancer research, treatment options, early detection and prevention of this potentially fatal disease.
The Meso Foundation is a non-profit organization whose goals include the eradication of the disease of mesothelioma by funding research, providing education, offering support to mesothelioma patients and their families and advocating for continuing and greater federal funding of mesothelioma research. Research talks included those on mesothelioma cancer stem cells, placebo-controlled studies, new drug studies (including studies on Vinorelbine) and the importance of tissue banks like the Insulators Tissue Bank of Mount Sinai School of Medicine in conducting mesothelioma research.
Other symposium discussions focused on innovations in mesothelioma surgical treatments including the SMART procedure for treating pleural mesothelioma, the use of photodynamic therapy with surgery, the use of heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and robot assisted surgery. Panelists highlighted the need for the development of a standard of care for surgical interventions which remain highly experimental.
Another symposium panel explored the importance of pulmonary health when living with mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related disease. Many individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma eventually lose a lung after an extrapleural pneumonectomy. Focusing on good pulmonary health is especially important to these individuals.
Other treatment methods discussed by various symposium panels over the course of the three day symposium included chemotherapy, immunotherapy and cancer vaccines, clinical trials for new drugs such as CRS-207 and Defactinib and radiation therapy, including the use of intensity-modulation radiation therapy (IMRT) following surgery.
Many of the symposium contributors focused on the overall theme of the importance of comprehensive care centers in leading the fight against mesothelioma. Comprehensive care centers can take the lead particularly in the area of early detection which is a crucial part in obtaining the best prognosis possible for individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma. Early detection panelists further discussed genetic predispositions for mesothelioma.
Patients were the focus of several other symposium panels including those on quality of life issues for those living with mesothelioma, meeting all the needs of mesothelioma patients and how researchers and medical professionals could better translate the science of mesothelioma to mesothelioma patients and their families. Several panelists highlighted some of the “unmet needs” of mesothelioma patients including problems with obtaining adequate health coverage, Medicaid issues and the problems with obtaining an early and accurate mesothelioma diagnosis.
Interested individuals can watch videos from this year’s symposium on the Meso Foundation’s YouTube channel here.
While researchers including those at the 11th Annual International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma continue to fight for a cure to this deadly disease, thousands of individuals continue to live with its devastating physical effects. At Brookman, Rosenberg, Brown & Sandler, our experienced attorneys understand that living with mesothelioma can place a significant financial burden on families who face the staggering costs of medical treatment, rehabilitation and loss of earnings.
For over thirty years, our Pennsylvania and New Jersey mesothelioma lawyers have fought on behalf of victims of asbestos exposure to help them obtain the compensation to which they are entitled. Our offices are conveniently located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to serve individuals living with mesothelioma, lung cancer or asbestosis in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. To schedule your free confidential consultation today, contact our office at 215-569-4000 or fill out an online inquiry form.