Lung-sparing approaches have become standard of care for mesothelioma
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 21, 2012 — Mesothelioma experts will gather on Saturday, May 12th 2012 at the Sheraton Delfina in Santa Monica, CA for the 2nd Annual International Symposium on Lung-Sparing Therapies for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. Dr. Robert Cameron, Director of the UCLA Mesothelioma Comprehensive Research Program and Chief of Thoracic Surgery at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, will lead the symposium again this year. Dr. Cameron has been a leading proponent of lung-sparing pleurectomy/decortication surgical procedures for nearly 20 years.
The distinguished faculty at this meeting will include experts from Houston, San Francisco, New York and as far away as South Africa, with additional experts in a wide range of medical/scientific fields. The seminar primarily is designed for physicians offering continuing medical education (CME) credit, but also is open to physicians in training, nurses, mesothelioma victims, their families, students, and other interested parties.
At the 1st annual International Symposium, specialists reviewed the Mesothelioma And Radical Surgery (MARS) trial from the UK and unanimously concluded that patients with mesothelioma no longer should be subjected to lung-removing surgery (EPP) and that more symposia should be held to discuss and promote lung-sparing therapies.
"This symposium brings the best scientific and medical minds together to advance the treatment of mesothelioma," said Dr. Cameron. "Research and practice over the past several years have continued to evolve, working to improve cancer outcomes without unnecessarily sacrificing the affected lung. Clearly, it is best for the patient to treat mesothelioma as a chronic illness while preserving the function of both lungs."
Early Bird tickets can be purchased before April 28th online at http://www.cme.ucla.edu/courses.
For more information, please contact UCLA at 310-794-2620 or call Clare Cameron at the Pacific Meso Center at Pacific Heart, Lung, Blood Institute at 310-478-4678.
http://www.pacificmesocenter.org
http://www.phlbi.org
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