The Pacific Meso Center (PMC) at the Pacific Heart, Lung & Blood Institute (PHLBI) will sponsor a UCLA symposium on Lung-Sparing Technologies for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. The conference will be the first of its kind focusing on cancer treatments that preserve the victim’s lungs. The symposium will take place on Saturday, May 21^st at the Sheraton Delfina in Santa Monica.

Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma is an asbestos-related disease that attacks the lining of the chest or the pleura. Mesothelioma also attacks the lining of either the heart, abdomen, or testicles. Symptoms of mesothelioma generally occur approximately 20 to 30 years after the asbestos exposure and include shortness of breath, chest pain and a persistent cough. In most instances, mesothelioma is diagnosed in the advanced stages leaving the victim as short as 6 months to live.

The conference will be led by Dr. Robert B Cameron, Director of the Mesothelioma Research Program at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and a long time advocate for lung-sparing technology. The conference will feature Mr. Tom Treasure, MD and Mr. David A. Waller, MD from England who will discuss the recent results of the Mesothelioma and Radical Surgery Trial conducted in the UK. The program will also feature experts in the fields of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and pulmonary medicine. The conference is designed for physicians but mesothelioma victims, their families, students and other interested parties may attend.

See Mesothelioma Lung-Sparing Seminar