Vera Rigby and Ann Oldham with fellow members of the Greater Manchester Asbestos Victims Support Group, donate a total of £10,070 towards the Mick Knighton and June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Funds
Gateshead Civic Chambers
The conference focused on Palliative Care along with the need for a National Centre for Asbestos Disease.
Left to Right Geoff Wind, Ian Mearns MP, ,Ian McFall, Chris Knighton,Dr Paes and Dr Neil Leitch
Ian Mearns MP for Gateshead, promised to help mesothelioma victims both in and out Parliament .While Penny Borgen, Community Lung Cancer Nurse for South Tyneside, gave an interesting talk on the North of England Cancer Network, in relation to mesothelioma patients in individual hospitals in the area.
Dr Paul Paes, Consultant and Senior Lecturer in Palliative Care, explained how Advance Care Planning can help achieve goals and address possible fears.
Those affected by the disease, were able to ask the experts on matters that affected them. 
Dr. Paul Cook. Role of Cordotomy in Mesothelioma
Dr Paul Cook,Consultant in Palliative Care, Oldham, Medical Director, Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, Oldham spoke of the Role of Cordotomy Service in Mesothelioma
Paul came into Palliative Medicine, via Anaesthesia and Chronic Pain work. Interventional Cancer pain treatments has always been of great interest to him.
His talk was of great interest to delegates as he gave details on a cervical cordotomy service at the Royal Oldham Hospital, for patients with one sided uncontrolled cancer pain, mainly for mesothelioma and lung cancer patients. To date, this service has treated patients from across the North West, Yorkshire and Leicestershire.
He advised the Department of Health on rolling out cordotomy for mesothelioma and co-ordinated the setting up a national network of cordotomy centres across the UK. The aim is to allow easier access to these services for patients with mesothelioma.
There are four Cordotomy Centres across the country, further information and contact details can be found on Specialist Pain Relief Service to help Mesothelioma Patients page.
The study has shown that MSC (stem cells) can destroy malignant pleural mesothelioma cancer cells. They can then be sent to lung cancer and destroy the cancer cells. In all cases cancer growth was reduced and in 40% cancers were eliminated.
He will now examine how widely effective this new therapy is and whether it can be improved by combining it with existing chemotherapy drugs.
If these experiments are successful, this treatment could easily be delivered to patients in the future.
Professor Ruth Plummer, MKMRF Patron and Clinical Director at the Bobby Robson Cancer Centre.
Brought us upto date on currrent clinical trials at the Northern Centre for Cancer Research in relation to asbestos related disease and mesothelioma.
Ian McFall, Head of the Asbestos Litigation Department at Thompsons Solicitors, gave an inspiring talk, on the complex subject of Compensation and Benefits in Mesothelioma
Natalie Doyle, Nurse Consultant in Cancer Rehabiliation at the Royal Marsden, brought the day to a close, with her presentation on Living With Mesothelioma.
.Natalie explained, Living With is, not the same as being alive with.
An illness such as mesothelioma, affects not only the person sufferring from the disease but extends throughout the family,as well as to friends and colleagues
By adjusting to life’s constant readjustments and becoming the Chief Executive of YOU Ltd. Recruiting family, friends, doctors, nurses, comlimentary therapists, support groups and anyone who looks remotley willing, life can become so much more positive.
It was an excellent message, delivered in an amusing way, for everyone to take home with them.
Natalie Doyle
Grateful thanks to, Gateshead Civic Centre and to Thompsons Solicitors for sponsoring the event.
