Meso Foundation to Conduct a Media Disease Education Program on Mesothelioma Awareness Day on September 26, 2014
Alexandria, VA (PRWEB) September 25, 2014 -- The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (Meso Foundation) – a nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating mesothelioma and easing the suffering caused by the cancer – has announced its media education program to raise awareness of mesothelioma. On September 26th, the Meso Foundation will participate in interviews with multiple television and radio stations across the country as part of the organization’s National Mesothelioma Awareness Day activities. The goal is to bring awareness, and subsequent attention and funding, to this neglected but extremely dangerous cancer.
“The dire circumstances of those diagnosed with mesothelioma and lack of suitable therapy options make funding research and improvements in clinical care an urgent necessity. At this point, with only one FDA-approved treatment to work with, clinical trials are a crucial part of the disease’s treatment paradigm.” said Mary Hesdorffer, CRNP, the executive director of the Meso Foundation.
“We are hopeful that through our efforts tomorrow, we will help educate the general public about this cancer and enlist their help as we work toward effective treatments. However, our goal is even more immediate: we want to ensure that those at risk for developing mesothelioma, and those who have already been diagnosed, know where to turn for life-saving help.”
In addition to funding research and advocating for increased funding for mesothelioma, the Meso Foundation provides patients and their family members with free-of-charge expert help and guidance through their diagnosis. Help can be obtained by calling the organization or through its http://www.curemeso.org website.
Every year, 59,000 people worldwide die from mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer most commonly occurring in the lining of the lungs. Diagnosis of the disease, which is primarily caused by exposure to asbestos, is difficult and often delayed, and the median survival following diagnosis is only 12 months. Currently, there is only one drug approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to treat the disease, extending life by approximately three months.
The Meso Foundation partnered with Verastem, Inc., for the Mesothelioma Awareness Day media campaign. Verastem provided the funding to help promote disease awareness and education. Verastem is conducting the COMMAND Study (http://www.COMMANDmeso.com) for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma in many countries worldwide.
About The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation
The Meso Foundation is the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating mesothelioma and easing the suffering caused by this cancer. The Meso Foundation actively seeks philanthropic support to fund mesothelioma research; provide patient support services and education; and advocate Congress for increased federal funding for mesothelioma research. The Meso Foundation is the only non-government funder of peer-reviewed scientific research to develop life-saving treatments for this extremely aggressive cancer. To date, the Foundation has awarded over $8.7 million to research. More information is available at http://www.curemeso.org.
Maja Belamaric, Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, http://www.curemeso.org/site/c.duIWJfNQKiL8G/b.8598593/k.D685/Homepage.htm, +1 7038793822, [email protected]
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