Press Release: Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization Honored to Present at 12th International Mesothelioma Interest Group (iMig) Conference http://bit.ly/1w0zIwR

Posted on October 14, 2014

The iMig conference brings together experts dedicated to treating and curing mesothelioma, featuring groundbreaking workshops, presentations and discussions, and strengthening collaborative efforts.

ADAO IMigThe Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) is delighted to join delegates from around the world at the 12th International Mesothelioma Interest Group (iMiG) Conference, October 21-24 in Capetown, South Africa. For ten years, I have been attending and presenting at iMig conferences in Chicago, Amsterdam, Kyoto, Boston and now South Africa.  iMig’s theme this year is “the ongoing quest for cure” which will be addressed by experts from across the globe dedicated to improving treatment and research. iMig is considered the world’s premier medical congress on mesothelioma.

This year I have two presentations – a Palliative Care talk about “The Importance of Supportive Resources for Mesothelioma Patients and Caregivers” and a Social Advocacy poster session entitled “Where Knowledge and Community Unite.”  ADAO is also a conference exhibitor. For a detailed press release on the conference, click here. 

In my first presentation, I will share important facts from ADAO’s survey of Supportive Resources for Mesothelioma Patients. The online qualitative survey was administered to our ADAO community, both patients and caregivers, through Facebook, Twitter, ADAO eNewsletters, and direct emails. Unfortunately, the majority (84%) were not given educational resources from their medical team nor advised to join a support group (92%) upon diagnosis. The majority found online mesothelioma resources improved their lives greatly (60%) or slightly (32%). The important results of the survey underscore that patients and their families rely on online supportive resources to obtain medical information, share personal experiences, build peer-to-peer networks, and improve quality of life.

ADAO will also share key information about the power of social media through materials that highlight: “Social Advocacy: Where Knowledge and Community Unite.” Our new materials are organized around The Facts, The Faces, The Fight and The Impact, recognizing that it is each one of you, — Your Faces —  our ADAO community speaking out in unity, that makes our efforts possible.  ADAO’s social advocacy programs have built a global community spanning 19 countries and more than 40,000 people, earning a ranking of #2 in a Twitter study of 500 health and safety organizations.

In an ADAO interview with iMig Board member Jim te Water Naude, we asked about the Social Advocacy session which is new for the 2014 conference. “While we need science to lead the way in finding a cure to mesothelioma,” he said, “we need to involve key societal role-players, as no problem of this complexity and magnitude is solved without the wider involvement of society.” iMig brings all of those international role-players together and ADAO is honored to be included.

iMig carries the torch of hope for a cure for mesothelioma patients and their families.  I look forward to sharing information about the new trends in treatment, advances in research and innovative ideas with you.
 It is a thrill for me to bring this cutting-edge medical information to those who need it most through ADAO, the largest non-profit online community for those living with an asbestos-related disease. 
You can keep up with the iMig conference via ADAO’s digital story, with blogs, videos, and photos.

Together, change is possible.

Linda