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International Mesothelioma Experts Present Promising New Research Findings at the 3rd Annual International Symposium on Lung-Sparing Therapies for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
The Pacific Meso Center, Los Angeles, CA: An international roster of experts on malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) gathered on Saturday, May 18, in Santa Monica, Calif., to discuss their latest research findings on new lung-sparing therapies for MPM, a rare form of cancer that results from exposure to asbestos and commonly affects the pleura, the lining of the chest.
Hosted by UCLA and the Pacific Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, the 3rd Annual International Symposium on Lung-Sparing Therapies for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma focused on research aimed at preserving vital lung function in MPM patients. Mesothelioma experts now agree that extrapleural pneumonectomy, which involves removal of the lung and surrounding diseased tissues, does not have a place in treatment of patients with this asbestos-related problem. Presentations included the latest surgical techniques for removal of cancerous tumors and a variety of adjunctive techniques.
Symposium leader, Robert B. Cameron, MD, FACS, Director of the UCLA Mesothelioma Comprehensive Research Program and Chief of Thoracic Surgery at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, presented treatment strategies and results of multimodality treatment of patients with sarcomatoid-type MPM, the fastest spreading and most difficult to treat form of the disease. He also discussed current thermal research at UCLA and the effectiveness of cryoablation in killing MPM cancer cells.
$150,000 Donation from Long-Time Supporter of Mesothelioma Research Helps Support The Pacific Meso Center’s 2013 Agenda
May 1st, 2013
Contact: Clare Cameron
310-478-4678
$150,000 Donation from Long-Time Supporter of Mesothelioma Research Helps Support The Pacific Meso Center’s 2013 Agenda
Los Angeles, CA. The Pacific Meso Center (PMC) is pleased to announce receipt of a generous donation from Roger G. Worthington of the Law Office of Worthington & Caron, P.C., a San Pedro, California-based law firm specializing in the representation of persons diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.
The $150,000 donation provides much-needed support for research into advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma being conducted at PMC’s laboratory in Los Angeles. The donation also supports three exciting programs that PMC will be presenting during the remainder of 2013 with other nonprofit organizations.
Worthington & Caron, P.C., will serve as the platinum sponsor for the 3rd Annual International Symposium on Lung-Sparing Therapies for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma, co-hosted by PMC and UCLA. “These funds will allow us to again convene an outstanding conference of world-renowned physicians and scientists leading the development of novel treatments that preserve the patient’s vital lung function,” said Robert Cameron, M.D., an internationally-recognized expert in mesothelioma who is again heading this year’s symposium. Dr. Cameron is Director of the UCLA Comprehensive Mesothelioma Program, Chief of Thoracic Surgery at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center and one of PMC’s Scientific Advisors.
The Symposium reflects PMC’s two-fold mission as a research facility dedicated to finding lung-sparing treatments for pleural mesothelioma, and as a patient advocacy center to help patients obtain urgently-needed assistance in their everyday lives. With a CME-accredited curriculum, the Symposium provides education about the latest advancements in the field for doctors and scientists on the front lines of mesothelioma medicine, and also provides patients, families and caregivers with valuable resources to help them make informed decisions about their treatment. The 2013 Symposium will be held on Saturday May 18th at the Sheraton Delfina Hotel in Santa Monica, California. [ https://pacificmesocenter.org/2013/03/mesothelioma-experts-to-meet-for-3rd-international-symposium-on-lung-sparing-therapies-for-malignant-pleural-mesothelioma-may-18th/ ]
Worthington & Caron, P.C. will also serve as Title Sponsor for “The Greatest Escape Motorcycle Rally”. This first-ever event is a memorial ride to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Great Escape film, starring Steve McQueen, who lost his battle to mesothelioma in 1980. The event will take place on Sunday, September 22nd featuring an escorted motorcycle ride from Bartel’s Harley Davidson, Marina Del Rey, CA to Sycamore Cove State Beach in Malibu.
Finally, Worthington & Caron, P.C. will serve as the Platinum Sponsor for the 2nd Annual 5K Walk/Hike for Meso at the Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills. Last year’s event featured 150 dedicated walkers and hikers who enjoyed a brisk trail walk/hike followed by a western barbeque with entertainment and raised a total of $67,000. This year’s event will take place on Sunday, October 27th once again at the Paramount Ranch.
All proceeds from The Greatest Escape Motorcycle Rally and the 5K Walk/Hike for Meso will support PMC’s research into lung-sparing therapies for pleural mesothelioma.
PMC thanks Worthington & Caron, P.C. for their continued support. Worthington & Caron, P.C. has been an industry leader in funding mesothelioma research for nearly twenty years. The Punch Worthington Laboratory at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine was established in honor of attorney Roger Worthington’s father, David “Punch” Worthington, Ph.D, who passed away from asbestos-related lung cancer in 2006.
About The Pacific Meso Center
The Pacific Meso Center (PMC) is a specialized Center for mesothelioma within the division of lung research for PHLBI, a 501(c)(3) non-profit medical research institute established in 2002 and which is focused on the treatment and prevention of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). The exploration of innovative ideas forms the foundation of PMC’s unique research program and provides the promise of future treatment breakthroughs. PMC is dedicated to educating the public on asbestos-related diseases and informing them of their best treatment options. PMC also connects newly diagnosed patients with patients who have undergone treatment and provides assistance and emotional support. For further information call 1-888-996-MESO, or visit our website at www.pacificmesocenter.org.
Pacific Meso Center Welcomes New Treasurer Anu Venkatesh
Pacific Meso Center Welcomes New Treasurer Anu Venkatesh
Accounting Director at Los Angeles’ PrepareYourBooks.com Brings Her Accounting Expertise to Fight Mesothelioma
Los Angeles, CA. March 20, 2013/- The Pacific Meso Center (PMC) at the Pacific Heart, Lung & Blood Institute (PHLBI) (https://pacificmesocenter.org/) is pleased to announce it has added Anu Venkatesh to its board of directors as Treasurer. Anu is a Director of Accounting at PrepareYourBooks.com (https://www.prepareyourbooks.com/), an accounting and financial management firm in Glendale, California that provides accounting services to individuals, corporations and non-profit organizations.
“Anu stepped right up to the plate on our Inaugural 5K Walk/Hike last October in Agoura Hills, and contributed enormously to our success”, said Clare Cameron, Executive Director of PMC. “We are most fortunate to have her on our team.”
MESOTHELIOMA EXPERTS TO MEET FOR 3rd INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON LUNG-SPARING THERAPIES FOR MALIGNANT PLEURAL MESOTHELIOMA MAY 18TH.
Lung-sparing approaches have become standard of care for mesothelioma.
The Pacific Meso Center, Los Angeles, CA: Mesothelioma experts will gather on Saturday, May 18th 2013 for the 3rd Annual International Symposium on Lung-Sparing Therapies for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma at the Sheraton Delfina in Santa Monica, CA. Dr. Robert B. Cameron, M.D., Director of the UCLA Mesothelioma Comprehensive Research Program, Chief of Thoracic Surgery at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center and Scientific Advisor at Pacific Meso Center (https://pacificmesocenter.org/) will again lead this year’s symposium. Dr. Cameron has been a leading proponent of lung-sparing pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) surgical procedures for malignant pleural mesothelioma for nearly 20 years.
This year’s meeting will include distinguished faculty and experts from prestigious universities such as UCLA, University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburg, National Institutes of Health and Centro di Riferimento Oncologico CRO-Aviano in Italy. While the seminar is primarily designed for physicians and offers continuing medical education (CME) credit, it’s also open to physicians in training, nurses, mesothelioma victims, their families, students, and other interested parties.
At the 1st and 2nd annual International Symposia, specialists concluded that if surgical treatment was to be performed at all, the preferred treatment is the pleurectomy decortication (P/D) over the more radical extra-pleural pneumonectomy (EPP) surgery. P/D is an operation for mesothelioma that removes the involved pleura and frees the underlying lung so that it can expand and fill the pleural cavity, whereas EPP surgery involves the removal of the lung along with its coverings and the associated coverings of the heart, diaphragm and pericardium. Read More ⇒
Johnson Family Advances Mesothelioma Research with $500,000 Pledge to The Pacific Meso Center
Family encourages action with matching pledges to support the proposed Admiral Zumwalt Mesothelioma Research and Treatment Program
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ – The Pacific Meso Center (PMC) gratefully acknowledges the generous pledge of $500,000 from the family of John Johnson, a military veteran who passed away from malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). John Johnson’s story and his horrific treatment by the U.S. legal system during his asbestos lawsuit which led to his early demise were chronicled by Michael Hiltzik in a Los Angeles Time’s article (https://articles.latimes.com/2012/apr/22/business/la-fi-hiltzik-20120422). Instead of being angry, the family is now challenging others, particularly attorneys involved in asbestos litigation to donate to PMC. The Johnsons will match such donations up to $500,000 thereby creating a $1 million fund which will be used for a collaborative research program with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Read More ⇒
Pacific Meso Center Celebrates Grand Opening of First Free-Standing International Mesothelioma Research Laboratory on February 13
Los Angeles PMC Research Laboratory dedicated solely to malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM)
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — OnWednesday, February 13th the Pacific Meso Center (PMC) will celebrate the grand opening of a new state-of-the-art laboratory dedicated solely to the discovery of new treatments and prevention of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), a cancer of the chest lining (pleura) caused by asbestos exposure.
As the first of its kind in the world, the PMC Research Laboratory is headed by a distinguished team of physicians and scientists focused solely on mesothelioma research in a collaborative effort that is independent of the limitations often imposed by academic and private medical institutions. The team includes one of the foremost experts in the field of mesothelioma research and treatment, Robert B. Cameron, M.D., who serves as PMC’s scientific advisor. Dr. Cameron is a cardiothoracic surgeon and surgical oncologist, the director of the UCLA Comprehensive Mesothelioma Program at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Chief of Thoracic Surgery at the West Los Angeles Veterans’ Administration Medical Center, and a long-time proponent of lung-sparing surgery for malignant pleural mesothelioma. He organizes the Annual International Symposia on Lung-Sparing Therapies for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma, which is held each spring in Santa Monica, CA. Read More ⇒
The Pacific Meso Center Appoints Savannah Cline, RN as Medical Liaison.
October 11, 2012
Contact: Clare Cameron
Executive Director
310-478-4678
The Pacific Meso Center Appoints Savannah Cline, RN as Medical Liaison.
Newly created Medical Liaison position to develop comprehensive educational system for mesothelioma patients
Los Angeles, CA. The Pacific Meso Center (PMC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Savannah Cline, RN, BSN, to the newly created position of Medical Liaison. Her mission will be to develop a comprehensive educational system that will enhance PMC’s outreach services for patients with mesothelioma, an asbestos-related disease.
“Savannah is the perfect choice for this position,” said Dr. Robert B. Cameron, a cardiothoracic surgeon and surgical oncologist, who is a scientific advisor at the PMC. “Ms. Cline’s hospital bedside experience, which includes chest diseases, surgery, and critical care, as well as her keen understanding of our mission, social media and potential mesothelioma resources will be the cornerstone of our outreach program’s efforts to educate the public about this disease.” Read More ⇒
Roger Worthington Donates $100,000 to Pacific Meso Center
Long-time mesothelioma research advocate’s donation will support ongoing investigation into promising therapies to combat the asbestos-related disease Los Angeles, CA. The Pacific Meso Center (PMC) gratefully acknowledges the generous donation of $100,000 from long time supporter Roger Worthington for its ongoing research for treating patients suffering with mesothelioma, an asbestos-related disease. $10,000 of this donation will be used to support PMC’s Inaugural 5K Walk & BBQ at the Paramount ranch in Agoura Hills on Sunday, October 14th, 2012.
“Roger Worthington’s continued exceptional generosity will help sustain our scientists’ ongoing investigations into several promising therapeutic approaches,” Dr. Robert B. Cameron, PMC scientific advisor, said. One area of investigation focuses on cryotherapy. Recent PMC studies discussed at the International Mesothelioma Interest Group (IMIG) have shown that freezing mesothelioma cells is more effective than many currently available therapies, including heated chemotherapy given during mesothelioma surgery, and with this funding likely will expand to become an essential component of any mesothelioma treatment program.
Cancer Immunotherapy Expert Joins Pacific Meso Center Research Team
June 8, 2012
Dr. Raymond M. Wong, Ph.D. Will Work on Mesothelioma Projects
Los Angeles, CA. The Pacific Meso Center (PMC) announces the appointment of their new scientific researcher for its laboratory on Santa Monica Boulevard. A graduate of the University of Southern California, Dr. Raymond M. Wong, Ph.D. joins the center after 5 years with MannKind Corporation, where he worked in cancer immunotherapy and specifically on preclinical development for MannKind’s MKC-1106-MT and MKC-1106-PP cancer vaccine programs.
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David Vanderhyde was diagnosed with pleural malignant mesothelioma (epithelial type – epithelium are tissue membranes that line the internal organs), in October 2006, and was instructed by his oncologist to begin chemotherapy right away. A month later, he began the standard regimen of Alimta with Cisplatin, however, his oncologist included a non-standard targeted therapy drug as well called Avastin (Bevacizumab), which is not a chemotherapy drug but rather an anti-angiogenesis therapy.David Vanderhyde
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Louisiana born and bred, Abe Cherry spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy as an aircraft mechanic before retiring as a Chief Petty Officer in 1981. His next career was in the forest industry in Louisiana where he performed maintenance in paper mills before he retired for the last time in 2006.Abe Cherry
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Walter “Wally” Nielsen and his lovely wife, Arleen, sit surrounded by comfort and beauty – testaments to their hard work and creativity. A well-tended garden is a riot of spring color, but the leaden sky and cool drizzle portend another side of the Nielsens' seemingly idyllic life.
You wouldn’t know it from his easy going manner and natural smile, but Wally is battling an insidious cancer. This diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma came as a shock to Wally, a tall, fit, active, 74 year-old lifetime nonsmoker.Walter “Wally” Nielsen
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