The eleventh annual International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma, sponsored by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, or simply the “Meso Foundation,” was held from March 5 to 7. The conference serves as a venue for information sharing, bringing together all facets of the mesothelioma community, including surgeons, oncologists, innovative drug companies, patients, families, and advocates.
The three-day event began with Advocacy Day, which enabled all attendees to be advocates for mesothelioma awareness by visiting Capitol Hill and discussing the issue with representatives. “Our advocates will share their stories and experiences in an effort to raise awareness of mesothelioma and make the case for an increased federal investment in mesothelioma medical research,” said the Meso Foundation’s Maja Belamaric. “We have found support for medical research on both sides of the aisle.”
The second and third days provided a forum for attendees to ask questions of some of the top mesothelioma specialists in the world. The topics included immunotherapy, surgical recovery, peritoneal mesothelioma, cancer stem cells, and more. Many of the sessions were streamed live, allowing patients and advocates to tune in remotely. Videos of the speakers will soon be available on the Meso Foundation’s YouTube channel.
The Meso Foundation seeks to find a cure for mesothelioma, a type of cancer that can only be contracted through exposure to asbestos. Each year, approximately 3,000 new mesothelioma diagnoses are made, and the disease is almost always fatal. The organization uses private funding from patients, families, law firms, and drug companies for worldwide research.