International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma

The International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma is like one-stop shopping, a place to find information you will need and the people to answer the questions you have about facing a diagnosis of mesothelioma.

The ninth annual event will be held July 12-14, 2012 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Sponsored by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (MARF), the long weekend brings together a wide variety of people touched by the cancer caused by asbestos exposure.

It includes leading medical experts from around the world and from the top cancer centers, patients and their families, advocates, researchers and lobbyists, all working toward the similar goal of finding ways to combat a dreaded illness. The Symposium annually attracts close to 300 people.

"The Symposium is one of the most effective and practical ways for patients and their families to gain insight into this very rare disease, and obtain information directly from the experts all in one place at the same time," said Kathy Wiedemer, Executive Director of the Mesothelioma Foundation.

While the symposium gives patients and families a place to learn more and share ideas, it also serves as an informational exchange among researchers, oncologists, surgeons and others. The latest breakthroughs, new treatment options and future trials also will be discussed.

It's a weekend of learning for all, a chance to gain knowledge and power against the disease through education.

"This is the kind of information sharing that is crucial in ensuring expedient progress in the development of treatments for mesothelioma," Wiedemer said. "It's not just for patients."

MARF is a non-profit organization with a national scope whose focus has been finding a cure for mesothelioma through research and much-needed fundraising.

As part of the weekend, attendees have the opportunity to meet with state and federal legislators and legislative staffers to help raise their awareness of mesothelioma, a relatively rare cancer that is diagnosed in an estimated 3,000 people annually.

Although the schedule of speakers for 2012 has yet to be finalized, the 2011 symposium can provide some insight into what to expect again. There were helpful seminars given on legal options for mesothelioma patients and their families, government benefits and advocacy advice.

There were extensive discussions on both peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma. There also were discussions on alternative medicine and experimental treatment options.

Physicians Paul Sugarbaker (Washington Cancer Institute), Richard Alexander (University of Maryland), Robert Taub (Columbia Medical Center), Edward Levine (Wake Forest University), and James Pingpank (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) spoke on experimental strategies with peritoneal mesothelioma.

Alex Hanauske (M.D. Eli Lily) and Lee Krug (M.D. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center) discussed research and the U.S. Department of Defense perspective. Fran Heller (Columbia Medical Center) and Nicole Goetz (New York Presbyterian Hospital) spoke on palliative care. Jill Ohar (M.D. Wake Forest School of Medicine) presented on Mesothelioma Genetics.

David Sugarbaker (Brigham and Women's Hospital), founder of the International Mesothelioma Program, Raffit Hassan (National Cancer Institute), David Schrump (National Institute of Health) and Daniel Sterman (University of Pennsylvania Medical Center) were part of a Malignant Mesothelioma Experimental Strategies presentation.

As part of the weekend, there are celebrations of life, also, honoring survivors, who often speak on their journey. There is an annual awards dinner, allowing the Foundation to salute those dedicated to the cause.

Larry Davis, a peritoneal patient, was given the Volunteer of the Year Award in 2011 for his work in organizing the South Florida Wishing Well Miles for Meso Road Race, which raised $50,000 for research. Linda Reinstein, founder of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, was given the Bruce Vento Hope Builder Award, for her national advocacy work.
Also among the speakers in 2011 were Luciano Mutti (Vercelli Hospital, Italy), Liz Darlison (University Hospitals, United Kingdom) and Steven Mutsaers (University of Western Australia) to provide an international perspective to mesothelioma.

Sources: