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- Mesothelin Finding Could Lead to Early Detection of Mesothelioma
- New York Attorney Calls for International Ban on Mesothelioma-Causing Asbestos
- Protein Can be Reliable for Diagnosing Malignant Mesothelioma
- Biomarker Successes Remain Elusive For Mesothelioma and Cancer Researchers
- Avastin May Not be Effective for Breast Cancer, But is Still an Option for Mesothelioma
- Options for Funding Mesothelioma Research
- Golf Outing to Raise Funds for Mesothelioma Research
- 3 Year Mesothelioma Survivor Stays Busy Raising Awareness of the Disease
- MesotheliomaHelp Website Offers Mesothelioma-Related FAQs
- CDMRP System Offers Funding Opportunity to Help Military Mesothelioma Sufferers
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has released the NCCN Guidelines for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. Led by Lee M. Krug, MD of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the guidelines were presented at the 15th annual NCCN conference.
Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive form of cancer primarily caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. Mesothelioma has an extended latency period with symptoms sometimes taking between 20-40 years to appear. By the time the symptoms appear the disease has progressed to an advanced stage, with life-threatening complications.
While there is no cure for mesothelioma, it can be treated with varying degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation. Each case of mesothelioma can be different, and determining the appropriate treatment often depends on the expertise of the treating physician
With the new treatment guidelines, doctors can rely on the evidence-based recommendations finding information regarding surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and staging information.
Among the recommendations, the guidelines suggest the use of pemetrexed and cisplatin or carboplatin “as the optimal first-line combination chemotherapy regimen for patients.” Krug noted that while mesothelioma was previously thought to be chemoresistant, new evidence suggests that certain chemotherapy regimens can benefit patients.
The most recent version of this and all the NCCN Guidelines are available free of charge at NCCN.org.
Release of Guidelines Announced
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Labels: mesothelioma, Treatment News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Friday, April 9, 2010
The American College of Chest Physicians’ website current Case Puzzler presents the case of a 70-year old woman with no history of occupational exposure to vapors, gases, dusts, fibers, or fumes, who is diagnosed with malignant epitheloid mesothelioma. Her physicians determined that she was a victim of “bystander asbestos exposure” from asbestos dust brought home on her father’s clothes throughout her childhood.
Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive cancer that is primarily caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until up to 50 years after initial exposure to the asbestos. A wide array of workers were exposed to asbestos including shipyard workers, factory workers, pipefitters, sheet metal workers, plumbers, laborers, machinists, mechanics, powerhouse workers, and electricians.
Asbestos is so toxic that mesothelioma has been diagnosed in family members whose only exposure came from contact with the fibers that adhered to the clothes of the worker/tradesperson who actually worked with asbestos products. The woman’s father died of cancer of unknown primary site. The type of work in which he was engaged was not revealed.
The case study leads the reader through the steps of diagnosis including showing the results of the initial abdominal and chest CT scans indicating a left-sided pleural effusion. The next test, thoracentesis, was performed showing atypical cells suggestive of, but not diagnostic of, a malignancy.
The “answer” shows the complete diagnosis as well as a discussion including the patient’s medical history and information on mesothelioma diagnosis and treatment.
Case Puzzlers are brief clinical vignettes on various educational topics. Developed by members of the American College of Chest Physicians’ NetWorks, it provides members with an opportunity to sharpen their skills.
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Labels: diagnosis, mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
The American Thoracic Society’s 2010 conference “Where Today’s Science Meets Tomorrow’s Care” will be held May 14-19, 2010, in New Orleans. Included among the many topics offered are various sessions on pleural diseases such as mesothelioma.
Pleural Mesothelioma is a cancer that is almost always caused by asbestos exposure and is most commonly found in the outer lining of the lungs called the mesothelium. Mesothelioma has an extended latency period with symptoms sometimes taking between 20-40 years to appear. Treatment of mesothelioma typically requires a team of specialists including a pulmonologist, oncologist, thoracic surgeon and radiologist.
The ATS International Conference is the largest US meeting for healthcare professionals in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. Peter Pronovost, M.D., Ph.D., a professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine‘s Bloomberg School of Public Health and School of Nursing, will offer the President’s Lecture discussing “the challenges he faced convincing traditional scientists and quality and safety experts to adapt their viewpoints to include patient quality and safety as an area of science.”
Dr. J.M. Seely of the Department of Diagnostic Imaging, The Ottawa Hospital is one of the chairs and speakers for the Thoracic Imaging event and will provide a session on Pleural Disease and Pleural Ultrasounds. Seely has previously presented topics and published research on mesothelioma including a paper entitled: “Malignant pleural mesothelioma: computed tomography and correlation with histology.”
See the full agenda on the American Thoracic Society website.
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Labels: mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 7:55 AM
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
As University of Minnesota researchers continue to try to get to the cause of the high incidence of mesothelioma cases among the Iron Range, Minnesota taconite miners, they have found an additional 4 cases of mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer typically affecting the lining of the lungs. Primarily caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers, most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed 30 years or more after exposure. The researchers at Iron Range have not uncovered any asbestos materials. Due to the high latency period, researchers expect to find more cases.
Researchers have been conducting respiratory health screenings on the miners and their family members as they try to understand the mesothelioma cases.
The total number of workers diagnosed with mesothelioma has now reached 63. The new cases will be integrated into the university’s Minnesota Taconite Workers Health Study.
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Labels: mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Co-chaired by renowned physicians Samuel Hammar, MD, Director of Diagnostic Specialty Laboratories, Bremerton, WA and Victor L. Roggli, MD, Professor of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, the Conference on Asbestos and Mesothelioma brings together some of the world’s best known asbestos researchers, physicians, and scientists.
Often called “asbestos cancer,” mesothelioma is highly aggressive and is resistant to many standard cancer treatments. Currently there is no known cure for mesothelioma, and the average survival time varies from 4 – 18 months after diagnosis.
Over 19 physicians with expertise in the treatment and research of mesothelioma will be on hand. Presentations focus on advances and research in mesothelioma treatment, and include topics such as:
- Developments over the past 20 years
- Pathology of pleural, peritoneal and pericardial mesothelioma
- Asbestos fibers in lung, pleura and other organs
- How asbestos causes mesothelioma
The conference will be held in Las Vegas on May 3-4, 2010.
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Labels: mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Last year the FDA gave approval for Alimta, a chemotherapy used in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer and mesothelioma, to be used in maintenance treatment in patients with advanced or metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer whose disease has not progressed after four cycles of platinum-based first line chemotherapy.
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelial cells, caused by breathing in asbestos fibers that become lodged in the thin membrane that lines and encases the lungs. While there is no cure, mesothelioma can be treated with varying degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation. Alimta is often used in combination with cisplatin, another chemotherapy drug for the treatment of mesothelioma.
Patients taking Alimta (pemetrexed) as a maintenance therapy for advanced non-squamous lung cancer lived a median of five months longer than patients taking a placebo. The findings were presented at the 2009 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting.
Maintenance therapy, which involves continuous chemotherapy treatment for cancer treatments, is gaining popularity among physicians and patients. Previously, chemotherapy treatments ended when the cancer was under control and was restarted if the cancer began to worsen.
Patients are often given a break from the treatments but restart chemotherapy before the cancer returns. Maintenance therapy is becoming more accepted due to the improved survival rates and because some of the newer cancer drugs have less side effects than the toxic older ones.
Read more about maintenance therapy in Cure.
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Labels: mesothelioma, Treatment News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Monday, March 22, 2010
Attorney Joseph W. Belluck applauded news that an investigational vaccine created by researchers in the Netherlands may be able to use matter from mesothelioma tumors to provoke the immune system into generating antibodies to fight the mesothelioma cells. This vaccine has proven to be safe in studies to date.
Belluck, of Belluck & Fox, a New York law firm that advocates for victims of the asbestos-related disease mesothelioma, welcomes rare good news in efforts to cure the cancer also referred to as asbestos cancer.
Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive cancer primarily caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until up to 50 years after initial exposure to asbestos. However, after symptoms become apparent, mesothelioma may rapidly progress to cause life-threatening complications.
The findings could lead to a vaccine that would protect people at risk from getting mesothelioma. Belluck believes this development is great news for those battling mesothelioma. “We have seen the toll of this disease and share the desire of its victims and their families to see it defeated,” said Belluck.
One of the researchers, Dr. Joachim Aerts, a pulmonary physician at Erasmus Medical Center, was quoted by Business Week as saying, “We hope that by further development of our method it will be possible to increase survival in patients with mesothelioma and eventually vaccinate persons who have been in contact with asbestos to prevent them from getting asbestos-related diseases.”
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Labels: mesothelioma, Research News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Friday, March 19, 2010
Virginia senators voted 13-2 to defeat the bill that would limit asbestos-related liability for Philadelphia-based Crown Cork & Seal. The company, a beverage packaging firm that invented the bottle cap, has faced hundreds of lawsuits for asbestos-related illnesses, such as mesothelioma, related to Mundet, a business Crown Cork purchased in 1963.
The special bill would have limited the cumulative asbestos-related liabilities of successor companies such as Crown Cork to the fair market value of the gross assets of the company being purchased at the time of the merger or consolidation. Since the purchase of Mundet, Crown Cork has been named in more than 300,000 asbestos-related claims and paid $600 million in expenses, according to the Washington Post. Mundet was purchased for only $7 million.
Often called “asbestos cancer,” mesothelioma is highly aggressive and is resistant to many standard cancer treatments. Inhaling microscopic asbestos fibers can lead to the cancer decades later. About 3,000 Americans a year die of asbestos-related respiratory diseases such as mesothelioma.
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Labels: mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
The Kentucky House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 62 designating September 26th of each year as Mesothelioma Awareness Day. The bill as approved on Monday was amended to include an unrelated house bill related to child deaths in the state.
September 26 of each year is designated “Mesothelioma Awareness Day” throughout the Commonwealth. The Governor shall proclaim September 26 of each year as “Mesothelioma Awareness Day” and shall encourage Kentuckians to support research into effective treatments and early detection methods.
Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive form of cancer primarily caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. Close to 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with the cancer yearly. Most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed 30 years or more after exposure, with the latency period sometimes as long as 50 years. Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, it can be treated with varying degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation.
The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation started the initiative in 2005 with a goal to “bring attention to this underfunded, asbestos-related cancer through a national campaign.” Last year almost twenty cities and states participated.
Sources:
Bill Passes
Belluck Applauds Bill
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Labels: mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
The British Lung Foundation, the only UK charity working for people affected by lung disease, has announced their annual Action Mesothelioma Day for July 2, 2010. The goal of the day is to raise awareness of mesothelioma and to improve the care and treatment for patients.
Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive form of cancer primarily caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. The number of mesothelioma deaths each year in the UK has increased from 153 in 1968 to around 2000 today.
Last year’s Day included a variety of events throughout the UK including a parliamentary reception at the House of Commons. The attendees discussed a survey of mesothelioma patients and their caregivers that showed that two-fifths of the patients did not have access to end-of-life care. They also discussed the impact of the Mesothelioma Framework on NHS services.
The British Lung Foundation started Action Mesothelioma Day in 2006 in conjunction with the creation of the Mesothelioma Charter. The Charter calls for improved care and treatment for mesothelioma patients, better protection for employees and more funding for research.
The events for 2010 have not yet been announced.
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Labels: For Your Family, mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Monday, March 15, 2010
To raise awareness of the risks associated with asbestos, known to cause mesothelioma, Senator Baucus of Montana introduced a resolution proposing the first week of April 2010 be set aside as Asbestos Awareness Week. Baucus represents the residents of Montana where nearly 300 people died in Libby from asbestos-related diseases.
Libby, Montana is the site of the W.R. Grace mine and mill that closed in 1980 which is suspected as the site of the asbestos exposure. Often called “asbestos cancer,” mesothelioma is highly aggressive and is resistant to many standard cancer treatments. Currently there is no known cure for mesothelioma, and the average survival time varies from 4 – 18 months after diagnosis.
Senate resolution 427 urges the Surgeon General to warn and educate people about the public health hazard of asbestos exposure. The resolution cites the fact that thousands of workers in the U.S. face significant asbestos exposure as well as the fact that a significant percentage of asbestos disease victims were exposed to asbestos on naval ships and in shipyards while serving the country.
For decades, asbestos was widely used in building materials and insulation. About 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year in the United States.
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Labels: mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Dr. Stefan Marciniak of the University of Cambridge has been awarded funding for a project to study the relationship between cell stress and mesothelioma. The funding is provided by the British Lung Foundation and the June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund.
Marciniak and his colleagues have been studying endoplasmic reticulum (ER) dysfunction and the role it plays in many human diseases, including diabetes and cancer. It is critical for him and his researchers to understand the biological processes it provokes, and through this project he hopes to gain a better understanding of why mesothelioma progresses as it does.
Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive cancer primarily caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until up to 50 years after initial exposure to asbestos. However, after symptoms become apparent, mesothelioma often rapidly progresses resulting in life-threatening complications.
The study will look at proteins produced by ER. Marciniak has shown that when ER proteins accumulate the cell is said to experience “ER stress,” which is increased in mesothelioma cells. The researchers hope to assess whether the amount of ER stress on cells can predict the speed at which mesothelioma develops. This will in turn help determine the success of mesothelioma treatments including chemotherapy.
Upon receiving the grant Dr. Stefan Marciniak said,”I hope to be able to take my findings out of the laboratory to improve the treatments available to my patients in the future.” Mesothelioma is highly aggressive and is resistant to many standard cancer treatments. Currently there is no known cure for mesothelioma.
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Labels: mesothelioma, Research News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Results from a new study indicate that an RNA molecule found in cancerous tissue may be useful in predicting a mesothelioma patient’s chances for survival after surgery. The researchers reported in Cancer Research that the presence of even one specific microRNA has significant predictive value for determining the course that mesothelioma will take after surgery.
Mesothelioma, an unusual form of cancer caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers, often has a complex growth pattern making complete surgical removal a difficult task. The goal of the surgery is to achieve a macroscopically-complete resection, which refers to the removal of all visible tumor cells. This type of test will give doctors another tool to identify post-surgical treatment for patients including chemotherapy or radiation.
MicroRNAs play a key role in biological processes, such as development, cell proliferation and apoptosis (the process of cell death). Thus, altered microRNA is likely to contribute to cancer and other diseases. MicroRNAs have been used as prognostic markers for numerous forms of cancer and as biomarkers to pinpoint the tissue where cancer originated. But few studies have explored the role of microRNAs in malignant pleural mesothelioma.
“Mesothelioma is a terrible disease, and this specific microRNA may help doctors and clinicians give patients and their families a more accurate prognosis of the disease and how post-surgical patients will likely respond,” said attorney Joseph W. Belluck. “It’s an important step in understanding and combating this disease.”
Belluck, a partner in the law firm Belluck & Fox, said the research represented a potential breakthrough in helping guide treatment of mesothelioma patients.
The research was supported in part by philanthropic grants from the law firm of Belluck & Fox, LLP in New York and the Stephen Banner Lung Cancer Foundation.
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Labels: mesothelioma, Research News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 7:48 AM
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
In February the Asbestos, Lead & Hazardous Waste Laborers’ local union 78 placed a coffin on the streets of New York to draw attention to the health hazards associated with asbestos, and to the fact that asbestos has been linked to deadly diseases. This serves as a reminder that people that work around asbestos, or have been exposed to it, should carefully monitor their health for signs of mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases.
Many workers at New York’s shipyards, powerhouses, plants and construction sites were exposed to asbestos. In addition, Ground Zero workers , especially those who were first on the scene, may be at risk for developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases in the coming years.
Asbestos is a known carcinogen and is linked to mesothelioma. Often called “asbestos cancer,” mesothelioma is highly aggressive and is resistant to many
standard cancer treatments. When the towers collapsed, asbestos and other toxic substances such as mercury and lead were released into the air. Medical researchers are now seeing unusually high incidences of respiratory issues and lung scarring in the workers.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH), in an effort to protect and treat 9-11 responders, are offering free health exams for volunteers or paid responders to the World Trade Center attack. The World Trade Center Medical Monitoring examinations are provided free-of-charge.
The tests consist of the following:
- Physical examination by a doctor
- Routine blood and urine tests (no drug or HIV testing)
- Breathing tests
- Interview by doctor or nurse about medical history
- Mental health questionnaire
- Questionnaire about occupational exposures
- Referral for treatment, if necessary
- Advice on Workers’ Compensation and other benefit programs, if necessary
According to the NIOSH website, there are three reasons for which they encourage participation in the screenings. 1) The program will follow participants health for a five-year period, and provide longer-term medical monitoring if resources become available. 2) Not all conditions cause symptoms, so by getting periodic examinations, it may be possible to detect any late-starting diseases. 3) The information that will be gained by following the group of 9/11 workers and volunteers will be extremely valuable in understanding how to protect worker health in future emergencies.
People who qualify include rescue and recovery workers, clean-up workers, anyone who performed essential restoration services, morgue personnel, and those who worked on the Fresh Kills landfill and barges.
See http://www.wtcexams.org/ for eligibility requirements, and for additional information.
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Labels: mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Monday, March 8, 2010
Reasearchers in the Netherlands, using a special type of cell known as a dendritic cell that is a key regulator in the immune system, have created an immunotherapy treatment against mesothelioma. They hope the research will one day lead to a vaccine for people who have been exposed to asbestos to help prevent asbestos-related diseases.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer typically affecting the lining of the lungs. Primarily caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers, most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed 30 years or more after exposure. The latency period can be as long as 50 years.
Immunotherapy uses the body’s own immune system to target and destroy cancer cells. The aim of immunotherapy is to harness the strength of the immune system in a specifically focused attack on cancer cells, while avoiding the broader toxic effects of chemotherapy.
The researchers tested the vaccine on 10 patients achieving 80 percent effectiveness. The results generated an immune T-cell response against the mesothelioma tumors. T-cells assist other white blood cells in immunologic processes. Treatment is a series of three vaccinations given over a two week period after receiving chemotherapy.
“This is the first human study on dendritic cell-based immunotherapy in patients with mesothelioma,” said Dr. Joachim Aerts, a pulmonary physician at Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands and lead author of a study published online in the American Thoracic Society’s Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
While the size of the study was small, the researchers said the results suggest that selected patients may benefit from dendritic cell immunotherapy without major adverse effects.
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Labels: mesothelioma, Research News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 7:20 AM
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Researchers from Johns Hopkins have created a test that can identify if and when a tumor is coming back after a patient has undergone initial treatment. Blood tests are compared with the unique genetic cancer sequences from the original tumor to tell whether surgeons removed all of the cancerous cells, whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, or whether the cancer is coming back. Called the PARE approach, researchers believe the test could be used to develop biomarkers for any cancer including mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma, an unusual form of cancer caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers, often has a complex growth pattern making complete surgical removal a very difficult task. The goal of the surgery is to achieve a macroscopically-complete resection, which refers to the removal of all visible tumor cells. Finding hidden cells can be close to impossible making a test like this critical to the treatment of both pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma.
Led by Victor E. Velculescu, MD, PhD, the team found that each patient’s cancer is unique, which is the key to this new test that may revolutionize cancer treatment. The team identified nine unique tumor characteristic rearrangements at the ends of its chromosomes that together serve as the tumor’s fingerprint. PARE is named for this finding: personalized analysis of rearranged ends.
This test is not yet widely available and the cost, around $5,000 per patient, may be prohibitive to some. Johns Hopkins University holds the patent on PARE.
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Labels: mesothelioma, treatments
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:04 AM
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
The makers of Oncolyn, a plant-derived natural anticancer remedy, claim that taking the tablets “caused objective and subjective improvement of patients with different types of cancers,” including mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer typically affecting the lining of the lungs. Primarily caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers, most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed 30 years or more after exposure. The latency period can be as long as 50 years.
Often called “asbestos cancer,” mesothelioma is highly aggressive and is resistant to many standard cancer treatments. Currently there is no known cure for mesothelioma, and the average survival time varies from 4 – 18 months after diagnosis. With such a grim prognosis, looking for ways to live longer and to improve their quality of life, many patients are turning to alternative treatments, natural remedies, and holistic care.
A product derived from three edible plants and a unique immune enhancing botanical extract with anti-carcinogenic and antimutagenic functions, Oncolyn, is touted as helping to reduce and neutralize the toxicity of harmful agents, helping to enhance immune cellular function, enhancing energy and mood levels, and enhancing the protection of leukocytes and platelets.
The makers of Oncolyn studied the effect of Oncolyn with standard chemotherapeutic agents. They found that Oncolyn “causes reduction of tumor size, inhibited vascularity on the surface and in the periphery of implanted tumor fragment and other morphological changes such as karyopyknosis and karyorrhexis consistent with apoptosis.” Apoptosis causes cancer cells to die.
In one study published in Natural Products in Cancer Therapy from a September 2008 symposium, researchers stated that when Oncolyn was used in the treatment of one pleural mesothelioma patient full remission was achieved and ten years later the patient remained cancer free.
Oncolyn was developed by Dr. Arthur H.K. D’Jang of Sante International. Dr. D’Jang is a licensed physician (M.D.) and certified specialist by the American Boards of Pathology (Clinical Pathology & Anatomic Pathology) and Nuclear Medicine and has expertise in Infectious Diseases, Biochemistry and Immunology ( Ph.D.,) Preventive Medicine ( M.P.H.) and Cytopathology.
Oncolyn is produced by Sante International. The drug is not FDA-approved, however, it does hold a U.S. patent.
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Labels: mesothelioma, treatments
posted by Nancy Meredith at 7:44 AM
Monday, March 1, 2010
A relatively new minimally-invasive surgical procedure known as Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) that uses fiber-optic imaging to see a detailed view of the pleural cavity and its surrounding tissues offers another surgical option for pleural mesothelioma patients. Using video tools inserted through a small incision in the chest, the surgeon can conduct diagnostic tests or surgery without making incisions large enough to physically see and touch the inside of the patient’s body.
Pleural mesothelioma can be diagnosed with a VATS biopsy. VATS pleurodesis can also be performed on mesothelioma patients. Pleural mesothelioma is a form of lung cancer that is almost always caused by asbestos exposure and is most commonly found in the outer lining of the lungs called the mesothelium.
VATS is useful for many different diagnostic and treatment procedures, and each patient is evaluated to determine whether VATS is an appropriate procedure. According to surgeons at the Mayo Clinic, the best candidates are patients who have not previously had chest surgery as scar tissue from previous procedures can make access into the chest cavity difficult.
VATS offers many advantages over traditional thoracotomy, which uses one larger incision to gain access to the chest.
- Patients may be able to leave the hospital in only one to two days versus close to five days required otherwise
- Patients experience less trauma to the body
- Less pain medication is required
- VATS leaves a smaller surgical scar.
A study reported in Interactive Cariovascular and Thoracic Surgery concludes that VATS decortication (the removal of the visceral pleura encasing the lung) is useful as a palliative measure in advanced malignant mesothelioma, and that drainage of effusion and pleurectomy/decortication improves the quality of life and may increase survival as well.
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Labels: mesothelioma, treatments
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:25 AM
Friday, February 26, 2010
Breathe, an artistic display of images designed to capture the essence of their husbands through anecdotes told by widows, continues its Australian tour. Developed by photographer Christopher Ireland, 14 women whose husbands died from mesothelioma, also known as asbestos cancer, posed for the project created to show the “pain of the scourge of asbestos.”
Mesothelioma, a rare, aggressive cancer primarily caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers, can take up to 50 years to develop after exposure to asbestos has occurred. There is no known cure for the disease.
The fourth leg of the tour which opens February 26th at the Moonah Arts Center in Tasmania, is sponsored by the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU), WorkCover Tasmania and the Tasmanian State Government. The AWU is currently campaigning for the removal of asbestos-containing materials in Australia.
“The scourge of asbestos has taken a heavy enough toll on this country already,” said Paul Howes, AWU’s National Secretary, in a September 2009 speech, and called for “the creation of a federal National Asbestos Taskforce to manage the prioritised recall of all asbestos containing materials in all forms from Australia by 2030.”
The current AWU Secretary, Ian Wakefield, is eager to sponsor such a moving and touching exhibit. The exhibit has been featured throughout New South Wales and Victoria since July 2009.
Sources:
Photographer Gets Word Out
AWU Sponsors Exhibit
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Labels: For Your Family, mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 7:30 AM
Thursday, February 25, 2010
$800,000 was awarded to researchers, at top national and international medical science centers, devoted to finding a cure for mesothelioma. The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (Meso Foundation) who presented these awards, has now given close to $7 million in funds to develop better treatment options for mesothelioma patients.
The Meso Foundation annually funds the top research projects from around the world, and this year they received 56 grant applications. Included among the top eight projects selected is a study for improved mesothelioma treatments, a study focusing on the role of hormones in malignant mesothelioma, as well as various studies looking at improving the specificity and effectiveness in mesothelioma of drugs already available to cancer patients, while reducing their side effects.
Mesothelioma, an unusual form of cancer which can take up to five decades to be properly diagnosed, is responsible for approximately 3,000 new cases each year in the United States. Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, it can be treated with varying degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation.
The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to ending the suffering caused by mesothelioma by funding mesothelioma research, by educating patients, and by advocating for federal mesothelioma funding.
See the full story at Curemeso.org
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Labels: mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Novartis Pharmaceuticals is conducting a Phase I clinical trial on one of its newly developed cancer drugs currently referred to as LDE 225. Developed to inhibit hedgehog- and smoothened-dependent proliferation in vivo (in live isolated cells), it targets patients with advanced solid tumors. One of the expected 58 trial participants, being treated at the Leicester Royal Infirmary, has inoperable mesothelioma.
With this drug the reasearchers are trying to cut off the protein, the hedgehog pathway in this case, resulting in increased apoptosis (death of the cancer cells) and decreased proliferation in the cancer cells, thus prohibiting the cells from growing and dividing.
The mesothelioma patient is a 61 year-old male from Derbyshire, England, who had been exposed to asbestos as a joiner. He could not tolerate the chemotherapy treatments, and after only 4 months he had to stop the treatments. His doctors then told him there was nothing else they could do for him.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer typically affecting the lining of the lungs. Primarily caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers, most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed 30 years or more after exposure. While there is no known cure for mesothelioma, it can sometimes be treated through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation.
The participant criteria for this trial is for patients with a confirmed diagnosis of advanced solid tumor (including medulloblastoma and basal cell carcinoma), who are relatively healthy otherwise. The trials are being conducted internationally including sites in the United States, Spain, and England.
Novartis Pharmaceuticals, headquartered in New Jersey, has a mission to discover and develop innovative medicines to fight cancer.
Sources:
Novartis LDE 225
LDE 225 Clinical Trial
Meso Patient in Trial
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Labels: mesothelioma, Research News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Monday, February 22, 2010
Richard Herr of Racine, Wisonsin, was a sculptor and artist for years. In order to make the cast aluminum molds for his sculptures, he added “a couple handfuls of asbestos” to the mixture he used for each piece of art. Unaware of the hazards, Herr breathed in deadly amounts of asbestos over the years resulting in his recent death from mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive form of cancer primarily caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. Close to 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with the cancer yearly. There is no known cure for the disease.
According to an I-Team investigative report on TMJ4 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, thousands of people in the Milwaukee area are at risk of mesothelioma, and the number of cases continues to rise. The Center for Disease Control reports that the yearly death rate in Wisconsin is considered the top tier in the nation with a 25% higher rate than the average.
While asbestos is no longer used in the United States, past employees of companies that used asbestos-containing products are still at risk of developing mesothelioma. With the long latency period, many people do not develop symptoms for 60 years, and with the general life expectancy increasing, more people are susceptible to mesothelioma.
The CDC expects the number of mesothelioma cases in the United States to peak within the next few years.
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Labels: mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Thursday, February 18, 2010
New York attorney Joseph Belluck, of Belluck & Fox, praised the Department of Defense for increasing their spending for research into the treatment of mesothelioma. “This boost in dollars finally recognizes a condition that has been overlooked and under-researched for far too long,” said Joseph W. Belluck.
Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive form of cancer primarily caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. Close to 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with the cancer yearly, with veterans accounting for nearly 30 percent of all cases of mesothelioma. Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, it can be treated with varying degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation.
Asbestos was widely used in the military between the 1940s and 1970s putting workers at a greater risk of asbestos exposure. Some soldiers worked in close quarters, such as ship engine rooms, where loose asbestos fibers circulated in the air. Asbestos was used in equipment in boiler rooms and engine rooms of ships as well as in numerous products, including gaskets, pumps, valves, boilers and turbines.
The Department of Defense effort includes awards totaling several million dollars for three important mesothelioma projects. The funds will support research into early detection of the disease and the development of new treatments, including clinical trials for a promising new vaccine that will directly impact patients.
Reported cases of mesothelioma have increased in recent years because of the long latency period of mesothelioma symptoms with the asbestos-caused cancer. It can take anywhere from 10 to 50 years after exposure before the onset of the disease.
“With more funds and more focus, there’s a chance of hope for victims and their families who’ve too often had none,” Belluck said.
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Labels: mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
A trial court has denied Crane Co.’s request for summary judgment over the potential of asbestos exposure from the use of its products. The company argued it did not make or supply any component parts containing asbestos and therefore should not be held liable for dangers associated with any asbestos components that may have been affixed to its products.
Exposure to asbestos fibers is conclusively linked to causing mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare, serious and aggressive cancer that normally occurs in the lungs and typically results from the workplace environment. Families of asbestos workers may also be at increased risk of developing mesothelioma through asbestos fibers brought home on the worker’s hair or clothing.
Asbestos exposure was common in industries such as shipbuilding, construction, automobile repair, mining, textile mills, sheet metal, plumbing and paper mills. For decades, asbestos materials were commonly used in those industries and trades.
Unlike other state courts that ruled that a manufacturer cannot be held liable for products it did not manufacture or supply, the New York trial court ruled, “it is well established in New York law that ‘[a] manufacturer has a duty to warn against latent dangers resulting from foreseeable uses of its products of which it knew or should have known.’”
Crane Co. is being sued over their negligence of warning Elmer Eugene Coon that installing and removing external insulation from Crane Co.’s pumps and valves could result in asbestos-exposure related illness.
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Labels: mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Monday, February 15, 2010
For going above and beyond the scope of usual duties in serving as the liaison between the cancer program at South Nassau and the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC), Shahriyour Andaz, MD, FACS, was named a recipient of an Outstanding Performance Award. Doctor Andaz is the director of thoracic oncology at South Nassau Communities Hospital in New York.
Dr. Andaz is board certified in both thoracic and general surgery and he specializes in complex chest cancer procedures and minimally invasive thorascopic surgery. The minimally invasive approach that Andaz provides offers patients faster healing and shortened recovery time. Chest wall sarcoma resection and reconstruction, and mesothelioma are several of the areas of Andaz’s expertise.
Mesothelioma, an unusual form of cancer which can take up to five decades to be properly diagnosed, affects approximately 3,000 patients each year in the United States. Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, it can be treated with varying degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation. The goal of the surgery is to remove as much of the malignancy as possible. However, the disease’s complex growth pattern makes complete removal a very difficult task.
The award was given to Dr. Andaz for his accomplishments in spearheading CoC initiatives within the hospital’s cancer program; collaborating with local agencies, such as the American Cancer Society; and facilitating quality improvement initiatives utilizing data submitted to the CoC’s National Cancer Database (NCDB).
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Labels: mesothelioma, Treatment News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Friday, February 12, 2010
Larry Davis did not let a diagnosis of mesothelioma slow him down. After his doctors told him in 2007 that his prognosis was grim, with a median survival of less than two years for mesothelioma patients, Davis stopped all medical treatment and began running.
Now almost three years later, Davis is logging 20-25 miles per week and is organizing a 5K run to benefit mesothelioma research. Scheduled for Valentine’s Day in Boca Raton, Florida, the Miles for Meso run is planned to raise awareness and funding for research into more effective treatments for mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a serious cancer that occurs in individuals exposed to airborne asbestos fibers. Even small amounts of asbestos and infrequent exposure can create a risk for contracting mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Mesothelioma is highly aggressive and is resistant to many cancer treatments.
Noting that mesothelioma is the cancer that killed singer Warren Zevon and actor Steve McQueen, Davis said “we are going to have a tribute, but we’re not going to be there to mourn, we’re here to get on with life and come up with solutions.”
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Labels: mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Kentucky Senate Bill 62, designating Sept. 26 of each year as Mesothelioma Awareness Day, was approved by a committee in the Kentucky State Senate on Wednesday. If the bill is approved by the full Senate, the measure will go next to the Kentucky House of Representatives.
The efforts by Kentucky lawmakers to establish a Mesothelioma Awareness Day in the state is a sign of progress in the growing national concern about asbestos-related diseases, New York personal injury lawyer Joseph Belluck says. Belluck is a partner in Belluck & Fox, a nationally-known law firm based in New York that represents victims of asbestos-related disease.
Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive form of cancer primarily caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. Close to 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with the cancer yearly. There is no known cure for the disease.
Numerous other states have designated Sept. 26 as Mesothelioma Awareness Day. The date was chosen because it is the wedding anniversary of a Pennsylvania widow who spent many hours making others aware of the disease that claimed her husband’s life.
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Labels: mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
TomoTherapy, a company that provides radiation treatment equipment, has named their recipients for the 2009-10 Clinical Investigation Grants. The grant program supports research on the clinical benefits of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) for improving cancer care.
Klaus Herfarth, M.D., of University of Heidelberg, Germany will use the grant to examine whether treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma with helical TomoTherapy can reduce the radiation dose to the non-diseased lung. Many patients with mesothelioma had no therapy options before due to the unusual shape of the tumor and the inability to reach cancer cells when they are wrapped around sensitive normal tissues.
Mesothelioma, a rare, aggressive cancer primarily caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers, can take up to 50 years to develop after exposure to asbestos has occurred. There is no known cure for the disease, although it can be treated with varying degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation.
Herfarth hopes TomoTherapy will decrease overall toxicity, enabling delivery of higher doses of radiation to further reduce recurrence rates. He says he is grateful for “the chance to offer patients with pleural mesothelioma a safe and sufficient radiation therapy in a multidisciplinary approach.”
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Labels: mesothelioma, Treatment News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Monday, February 8, 2010
Joseph Belluck of New York law firm Belluck & Fox, and Michael Pietrykowski of San Francisco will co-chair the thirteenth annual National Asbestos Litigation Conference in September 2010. The conference, first held in 1998, is the companion conference to HB’s Emerging Trends in Asbestos Litigation Conference, being held in March.
Belluck and Pietrykowski also co-chaired the conference in 2009. While the agenda has not been finalized for the 2010 conference, topics last year included information on mesothelioma cases, asbestos exposure risks, and settling mesothelioma lawsuits.
Mesothelioma is a serious cancer that occurs in individuals exposed to airborne asbestos fibers. Even small amounts of asbestos and infrequent exposure can create a risk for contracting mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Mesothelioma is highly aggressive and is resistant to many cancer treatments. Currently there is no known cure for the disease.
Belluck, a nationally recognized attorney whose practice focuses on asbestos, consumer, environmental, and product injury litigation, says the conference is “the most significant gathering of attorneys representing plaintiffs and defendants in asbestos cases throughout the United States.”
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Labels: mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Friday, February 5, 2010
In contrast to previous findings, French researchers are reporting that the incidence of pleural mesothelioma among French men has begun a slight downward trend. For women, however, the incidence of mesothelioma has shown a significant increase. The findings covered data from 1980 to 2005, and were reported in the International Journal of Cancer.
Pleural mesothelioma is a form of lung cancer that is almost always caused by asbestos exposure and is most commonly found in the outer lining of the lungs called the mesothelium. Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, it can be treated with varying degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation.
The last predictions of the incidence of mesothelioma and pleural cancers in France were conducted in 2000. At that time estimates were given that the mortality rate would peak in 2020 with 900 annual deaths. The number of cases of mesothelioma and other pleural cancers continued to increase 3.1% year over year until 2000.
The new study reviewed data through 2005 gathered from two sources: the French network of cancer registries (FRANCIM) comprised of medical data from local cancer registries from the 100 districts in France, and the French National Mesothelioma Surveillance Program (PNSM), established in 1998. Prior to the inclusion of data in the FRANCIM database, experts confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis.
The total number of pleural cancers represented in the data totaled 1,457 diagnoses from 1980-2003. 1,147 of the cases were in the male population, while 310 or 21% of the cases affected women. When looking closer at the female population the incidence of total mesothelioma cases increased from 80 cases in 1980, to 170 in 1995, and to 264 in 2005.
Researchers concluded that the likely explanation for the increase in mesothelioma reported among French women is due to their under diagnosis in the 1980-1997 period. The rise in the proportion of mesothelioma incidence rate of pleural cancers went from 48% in 1980-1985 to 86% in 1998-2003. The latest period shows a proportion identical with that in men during the same time period suggesting that pleural mesotheliomas in women were under diagnosed before 1997, probably as the result of a secondary pleural cancer diagnosis.
The researchers attribute the asbestos regulations imposed across the country beginning in 1977 to the decrease shown in mesothelioma among men. The primary cause of mesothelioma among French men is associated with occupational asbestos exposure. The latency period can be as long as 50 years, however, researchers used a 30-year average latency period for their study.
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Labels: mesothelioma, Research News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
The most common chemotherapy treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma is a combination therapy of cisplatin and pemetrexed. This combination is used as a first-line treatment in patients for which resection (surgery) is not an option, as well as in adjuvant chemotherapy treatment after surgery. This combination is effective, yet it can be toxic with a range of side effects including decreased kidney function.
Malignant Peural Mesothelioma (MPM) is a form of lung cancer that is caused by inhaling airborne asbestos fibers and affects the outer lining of the lungs called the mesothelium. While pleural mesothelioma is not classified as a lung cancer according to the medical defintion, the treatments between lung cancer and mesothelioma are often similar. There is no cure for malignant mesothelioma and the treatments that are used to fight the disease are considered aggressive and can be difficult on the patient.
According to a study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology the combination of
carboplatin, as opposed to cisplatin, and pemetrexed is well tolerated in patients with malignant pleural mesotheliom. “Disease control rate, time to disease progression, and overall survival” were similar to those of patients treated with the standard regimen of pemetrexed and cisplatin.
The choice between treatment with cisplatin or carboplatin for mesothelioma
should be discussed with your oncologist. While carboplatin is often better tolerated, the efficacy of cisplatin is slightly better. If kidney function declines while on cisplatin, a switch to carboplatin is reasonable.
Source:
Journal of Clinical Oncology
Labels: mesothelioma, treatments
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
A treatment known as chemoembolization, where anticancer drugs are injected directly into a cancer tumor, has shown effective in the treatment of mesothelioma according to its supporters being treated in Germany. However, the National Health Service (NHS), the publicly-funded healthcare system in England, is not convinced.
England’s Department of Health says they do not have enough information about the risks and benefits of the treatment to support it in patients with mesothelioma. Chemoembolization has proven effective in the treatment of liver cancer.
Mesothelioma, a rare, aggressive cancer primarily caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers, can take up to 50 years to develop after exposure to asbestos has occurred. Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, it can be treated with varying degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation.
One patient who says the treatment has prolonged his life by years, as well improved his quality of life, had to use his life savings to pay for the treatment. He and others in a Devon, England mesothelioma support group are pressing NHS to reconsider its policy on funding the treatment.
Devon Primary Care Trust has indicated that any future applications for chemoembolization treatment would be reviewed based on the latest clinical information.
Source:
Mesothelioma Treatment Funding
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Labels: mesothelioma, Treatment News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Monday, February 1, 2010
The University of Hawaii’s Cancer Reseach Center which receives about $1.5 million annually as a National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated Cancer Center will be re-evaluated by NCI next week to determine whether it will maintain its status. Dr. Michele Carbone, Cancer Research Center director, is an authority on malignant mesothelioma and has studied the impact of genetics, environmental carcinogens and viral infections on mesothelioma development.
Mesothelioma is a serious cancer that occurs in individuals exposed to airborne asbestos fibers. Even small amounts of asbestos and infrequent exposure can create a risk for contracting mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Mesothelioma is highly aggressive and is resistant to many cancer treatments. Currently there is no known cure for the disease.
Carbone indicates that the designation was in jeopardy when he took over as director in September 2009, but since then the staff has addressed some of the NCI concerns. The Hawaii Cancer Center has started to design a new research center, established a consortium with other Hawaiian cancer research centers, and filled vacant positions. All of these steps should be looked upon favorably by the representatives from NCI.
Dr. Carbone has received more than half of all federal funding for mesothelioma and approximately 90 percent of the National Cancer Institute’s funding allocated for mesothelioma research.
National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Cancer Centers are recognized for their scientific excellence. They are a major source of discovery and development of more effective approaches to cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. All NCI-designated Cancer Centers receive substantial financial support from NCI grants and are re-evaluated each time their support grant comes up for renewal.
Sources:
NCI Visit
Mesothelioma Researcher at Hawaii
Labels: mesothelioma, Research News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Friday, January 29, 2010
Mayo Clinic, the first and largest integrated, not-for-profit group practice in the world, announced it raised $1.35 billion in its first comprehensive fundraising campaign, and achieved this milestone in only 5 years. One area that will benefit from the funds is the research into the use of the measles virus to treat mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a serious cancer that occurs in individuals exposed to airborne asbestos fibers. Even small amounts of asbestos and infrequent exposure can create a risk for contracting mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Mesothelioma is highly aggressive and is resistant to many cancer treatments. Currently there is no known cure for the disease.
The Mayo Clinic Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, a virtual three-site center that “is translating laboratory findings into vanguard methods to treat cancer,” was established in 2007 with a gift from The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation. Richard M. Schulze is the founder and chairman of Best Buy, and his wife Sandra Schulze died in 2001 of mesothelioma.
Schulze hopes that at the center “some cancers will be cured and that Mayo’s talented scientists and physicians will find a way. “
Source:
Mayo Clinic Campaign
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Labels: mesothelioma, Research News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 7:57 AM
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive form of cancer primarily caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. Close to 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with the cancer yearly with most cases of mesothelioma diagnosed 30 years or more after exposure. The latency period can be as long as 50 years. Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, it can be treated with varying degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation.
Adjuvant chemotherapy is one treatment method used for mesothelioma where chemotherapy is prescribed after surgery to kill cancerous cells that remain once the tumor was removed. In some cases, the surgery will appear to have removed all of the cancerous tissues, but some will remain that are undetectable to the medical team. This is especially true for mesothelioma patients, because the diffuse nature of mesothelioma’s invasion pattern makes complete surgical extraction very difficult, if not impossible, to perform.
High risk patients, those that had a large tumor and the mesothelioma has spread or metastasized, may find that the benefits of chemotherapy as an adjuvant treatment outweigh the side-effects and can slow or halt the regrowth of cancer cells. The side-effects of chemotherapy are well known and often instill fear in patients causing them to reject the treatment. Improvements have been made in the new chemotherapy drugs, however, and this combined with some adjustments to diet and lifestyle can minimize the effects.
Heather Wakelee, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford Cancer Center, says that adjuvant treatment is typically offered over a period of three months, approximately 8 treatments, and the toxicity level is not as high as neoadjuvant chemotherapy given prior to surgery.
Dr. Wakelee offers the following suggestions for managing your chemotherapy side-effects:
- Fatigue. While this is one of the biggest challenges of chemotherapy, it can be managed. Many patients want total rest due to the draining effect, but this can actually increase fatigue. Wakelee suggests patients get some form of exercise every day, walk around some, to help recover your energy.
- Low red blood cells or anemia. While blood transfusions are an option to improve this if the count gets too low, a change in diet can help you get the iron you need to raise the count. These foods are all high in iron: red meat, spinach, broccoli, beans, bran, tofu.
- Low white blood cells. Infection is a possibility with low white blood cell counts. Doctors are concerned about this in patients although it can be managed. Ways to avoid infection include avoiding raw fish, thoroughly washing fruits and vegetables, and washing your hands often.
- Nausea/vomiting. Significant improvements have been made in the medicines available to treat nausea, and many patients find they have little to no problems and can eat a normal diet. The patient may take medicines for several days after a treatment and should not be afraid of chemotherapy for this side effect. If there is a problem the doctor can use additional medicines.
- Hair loss. Some drugs do not cause hair loss, but they may not be the right drug for the patient. Once chemotherapy treatment is completed the hair often grows back quickly and thicker than before.
- Skin rash. This can happen although is not often severe. The use of topical lotions, and potentially with steroids, the rashes can be controlled.
Make sure to discuss your concerns and any side-effects you experience with your mesothelioma specialist so he can make any adjustments to your treatment to minimize any side-effects.
Sources:
Mesothelioma Treatment: What is Chemotherapy?
Understanding Adjuvant Therapy for Early-Stage Lung Cancer
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Labels: mesothelioma, Treatment News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 9:34 AM
Monday, January 25, 2010
Researchers reported in December that through a combination of surgery and chemotherapy used as a “bath” applied directly to the cancer site, they have improved the survival rate for patients suffering from peritoneal mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure, can affect the lining of the lungs known as pleural mesothelioma, or the lining of the abdomen resulting in peritoneal mesothelioma. In rare instances, the lining of the heart can be affected resulting in pericardial mesothelioma. There is no known cure for the disease.
Researchers at eight medical research universities throughout the world including the U.S., Italy, and Australia, collaborated on the study and reported that of the patients treated for peritoneal mesothelioma, the overall median survival rate was 53 months, and 47 percent of the patients were alive after five years.
After surgery to remove the cancerous tumors from the lining of the abdomen, the doctors then used procedure called hyperthermic interperitoneal chemotherapy. The patient’s abdominal cavity was bathed for several hours in a heated chemotherapy solution to treat remaining cancer cells while the patient was in the operating room.
The researchers said that the improved survival rate could be attributed to the absence of cancer having spread to the lymph nodes, the completeness of the tumor removal and the chemotherapy treatment. The treatment can also help reduce pain associated with mesothelioma.
Source:
Combo Treatment for Mesothelioma in Abdomen Helps Some Patients Live Longer
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Labels: mesothelioma, Treatment News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 9:02 AM
Thursday, January 21, 2010
The International Union Against Cancer (UICC) initiated the World Cancer Campaign in 2005 to raise awareness of cancer prevention, and has once again declared February 4, 2010 as a global World Cancer Day. The purpose is to “help raise people’s awareness of cancer and how to prevent, detect or treat it. ” Mesothelioma affects close to 3,000 people in the United States yearly, and almost 20,000 people across the globe die from mesothelioma each year.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer typically affecting the lining of the lungs. Primarily caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers, most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed 30 years or more after exposure. The latency period can be as long as 50 years.
During World Cancer Day individuals, businesses, non-profit organizations and governments work to educate the general public about the different types of cancer. This year’s campaign is “cancer can be prevented too,” and focuses on educating the public against smoking, sun exposure and other hazards.
When you encounter people on February 4th, raise awareness about mesothelioma with the following statement from the Mesothelioma Applied Resource Foundation website:”thousands of Americans each year are diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Currently is no cure; but there is hope.”
For more information on mesothelioma treatment, support, and resources see MesotheliomaHelp.Net.
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Labels: cancer, mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:37 AM
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Mesothelioma is a rare, serious and aggressive cancer that normally occurs in the lungs and is conclusively linked to exposure to asbestos fibers. Close to 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with the cancer yearly. Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, it can be treated with varying degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation.
As with any disease, when you are first diagnosed, the medical jargon can be confusing and can leave you feeling overwhelmed. Understanding your doctor and medical team is critical to ensuring that you are comfortable with your treatment and that you feel you are included when making decisions.
As a reference, following are some key terms that you may hear early in your mesothelioma diagnosis.
Alimta. A chemotherapy drug developed by Eli Lilly specifically for mesothelioma patients.
Extrapleural Pneumonectomy. Surgery to remove a diseased lung, part of the pericardium (membrane covering the heart), part of the diaphragm (muscle between the lungs and the abdomen), and part of the parietal pleura (membrane lining the chest). This type of surgery is used most often to treat malignant mesothelioma.
Latency period. The time between the actual exposure to asbestos and the development of mesothelioma.
Mesothelial cells. Specialized cells that form the mesothelium.
Mesothelium. The protective membrane that surrounds the chest cavity, abdominal cavity, the cavity around the heart, and the internal reproductive organs.
Metastasis. Spread of disease from the original site in the body to other sites.
Palliative Treatment. Therapy that relieves symptoms, such as pain or blockage, but is not expected to cure the cancer. Its main purpose is to improve the patient’s quality of life.
Pericardial Mesothelioma. Cancer of the protective membrane that surrounds the heart. One of the rarest forms of mesothelioma.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma. Cancer of the protective membrane that surrounds the abdomen. The second most diagnosed form of mesothelioma.
Pleura. The thin covering that protects and cushions the lungs. The pleura is made up of two layers of tissue that are separated by a small amount of fluid. The most common site for mesothelioma.
Pleural Effusion. An abnormal collection of fluid between the thin layers of tissue pleura) lining the lung and the wall of the chest cavity.
Pleural Mesothelioma. Cancer of the pleura (membrane lining the lungs and chest cavity). Pleural mesothelioma is different from lung cancer. Lung cancer refers to any type of malignant tumor that originates in the lungs. Pleural mesothelioma effects the pleura.
Resection. Surgical removal of a diseased portion of a tissue.
For more information on mesothelioma and your treatment, order a free copy of “100 Questions & Answers About Mesothelioma.”
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Labels: mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 7:52 AM
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
When someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma they are often faced with disbelief not only for the impact of the disease, but for the fact that most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed 30 years or more after their initial exposure to asbestos. Many patients are not even aware of when or where they may have been exposed to asbestos. The latency period for mesothelioma can be as long as 50 years.
Mesothelioma is a serious cancer that occurs in individuals exposed to airborne asbestos fibers. Even small amounts of asbestos and infrequent exposure can create a risk for contracting mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Mesothelioma is highly aggressive and is resistant to many cancer treatments. Currently there is no known cure for the disease.
In a recent interview, Joseph W. Belluck, a partner in Belluck & Fox LLP, a New York law firm that focuses on representing victims of asbestos-related disease, says,”to be frank, if you have mesothelioma, we know you were exposed to asbestos – it’s just a matter of reverse-engineering your life and figuring out where that exposure occurred.”
Exposure to deadly asbestos fibers most often occurred on-the-job, primarily in construction and general industry workers, but has also been known to be passed on through second-hand exposure through fibers from clothing.
Belluck stresses that mesothelioma is not limited to construction workers. A dentist may have used asbestos-containing material in making castings for fillings, or a jeweler may have used it in crucibles, whereas a lab technician may have been exposed to it through various heating chemicals.
In New York, as a matter of public policy, there is no “statute of repose” that would prevent a person from suing a manufacturer a number of years after the asbestos-containing product was produced. However, a person could lose his or her right to file a mesothelioma lawsuit if action is not initiated within three years of discovering the disease. This is called the “statute of limitations.”
If an individual in New York decides to move forward with a mesothelioma lawsuit, Belluck & Fox will file an individual legal claim on the individuals behalf in a state court and serve a summons on the companies suspected of being responsible.
The companies usually have one month to answer the complaint. The case will then go to “discovery,” which consists of depositions and written exchanges called interrogatories and requests for production. Finally, experts will be brought in to review your case and testify on your behalf.
The process generally takes 7-12 months to complete.
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Labels: mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Friday, January 15, 2010
Mesothelioma is a rare, serious and aggressive cancer that normally occurs in the lungs and is conclusively linked to exposure to asbestos fibers. This exposure to asbestos fibers typically occurs in the workplace and is sometimes brought home on a worker’s clothes. Mesothelioma has an extended latency period – symptoms can sometimes take between 20-40 years to appear. Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, it can be treated with varying degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation.
Determining your treatment plan is critical to your survival, and communicating with your medical team and your mesothelioma specialist is key to ensuring that you understand and are comfortable with the selected plan of action. Prior to meeting with your physician to determine your treatment plan, research mesothelioma and cancer treatments to find as much information as you can to be best prepared to plan your future.
Learn about clinical trials, handling the side effects of chemotherapy treatments, surgical options, nutrition and cancer, and many other topics that can impact your recovery during your struggle with mesothelioma. See CancerCare Connect Education Workshops for a series of podcasts on the above topics, and many more.
When discussing your treatment options, be engaged with your doctor and use the following suggested questions to better understand his/her approach to your treatment.
- What type of mesothelioma do I have?
- What treatment options are available to me, and which would you recommend?
- Why do you recommend this treatment?
- What are the side effects and risks with which I should be concerned?
- Are there any mesothelioma clinical trials available?
- How many specialized mesothelioma treatment cases have you handled in the course of your career?
If you have recently been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you undoubtedly feel overwhelmed with questions. Learning about the medical diagnosis and prognosis, your treatment options, and available support resources can help you feel better about your fight against mesothelioma. Get educated to help you make critical decisions about your treatment.
© MesotheliomaHelp.Net. All Rights Reserved. Reprinting or republication of this article or any portion of its content is permitted but must include the MesotheliomaHelp.Net link.
Labels: mesothelioma, Treatment News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Italian researchers found that while a second surgery to treat a recurrence of malignant mesothelioma may not increase the survival rate for a patient, the surgery may relieve a patient’s pain. The results were determined after reviewing 74 cases of mesothelioma patients who underwent surgery over 20 years to remove a diseased lung as well the membrane tissue covering the lung and heart, and diaphragm muscle.
Mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure, can affect the lining of the lungs known as pleural mesothelioma, or the lining of the abdomen resulting in peritoneal mesothelioma. In rare instances, the lining of the heart can be affected resulting in pericardial mesothelioma.
The researchers, Dr. Leonardo Politi of the University of Florence, and Dr. Giuseppe Borzelleno of the University of Verona, determined that extrapleural pneumonectomy, the surgical procedure, did not offer the expected curative benefits they had hoped to see when treating a recurrence of malignant mesothelioma. They did say that the procedure should be considered an option for certain malignant mesothelioma patients who cannot tolerate additional radiation treatment.
Source:
Does Follow-up Surgery for Recurring Malignant Mesothelioma Improve Survival?
© MesotheliomaHelp.Net. All Rights Reserved. Reprinting or republication of this article or any portion of its content is permitted but must include the MesotheliomaHelp.Net link.
Labels: mesothelioma, Treatment News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
The National Lung Cancer Partnership announced today that they will host the 3rd Lung Cancer Advocacy Summit: Tools for Change from April 22 – 25, 2010 in Tampa, FL.
According to the summit flyer, the goal of the Lung Cancer Advocacy Summit is to empower advocates by providing them with training, resources, knowledge and courage to go back to their communities and take action. The Summit will include teaching workshops, interactive sessions, networking and small group discussions.
Attendance for the conference is limited to 80 “grassroots” lung cancer advocates. To apply as an attendee submit a completed application by February 15. Accepted participants will receive three nights of paid hotel accommodations. Participants may also apply for a limited number of scholarships of up to $500 to cover transportation expenses.
National Lung Cancer Partnership is a non-profit organization dedicated to decreasing deaths due to lung cancer, and helping patients live longer and better. Their primary goal is to advance lung cancer treatments for all patients.
Mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure, can affect the lining of the lungs known as pleural mesothelioma, or the lining of the abdomen resulting in peritoneal mesothelioma. In rare instances, the lining of the heart can be affected resulting in pericardial mesothelioma. Close to 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with the cancer yearly.
Pleural Mesothelioma is a form of lung cancer. While pleural mesothelioma is not classified as a lung cancer according to the medical defintion, the treatments between lung cancer and mesothelioma are often similar, and raising awareness for mesothelioma is critical. Whereas lung cancer occurs when lung tissue develops cancerous growths, mesothelioma develops in the serous membranes surrounding the lungs.
© MesotheliomaHelp.Net. All Rights Reserved. Reprinting or republication of this article or any portion of its content is permitted but must include the MesotheliomaHelp.Net link.
Labels: cancer, mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM