Mesothelioma Pages

April 27, 2011

Father’s mesothelioma inspires son’s creative fundraiser

Filed under: Uncategorized — MesoPages @ 8:06 am

A young Englishman has a creative plan to raise funds for mesothelioma research. Jamie Menzies intends to cycle across Europe to heighten awareness and donations for the Papworth Hospital, UK’s largest cardiothoracic specialist facility. Menzies’ inspiration for this caring adventure comes from his father’s current struggle with mesothelioma. Menzies’ father was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in November and has been receiving treatments at Papworth Hospital.

Pleural mesothelioma is the more common of two types of mesothelioma, and is specific to lung lining. Peritoneal mesothelioma, the less common type, affects tissue lining of the diaphragm, heart and other abdominal organs. Pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma are caused by asbestos fibers which begin a cancerous growth process after being inhaled or ingested. Asbestos exposure often occurs through work-related or on-the-job hazards in industries using or removing materials containing the toxic chemical.

Menzies plans to bike 1,400 miles, beginning at Papworth Hospital in Cambridgeshire. His route takes him through London to Dover, on ferry to Dunkirk, France, to Switzerland and then returning to Papworth. Menzies expects the trip will take about 23 days if he cycles an average of 60 miles daily.

Papworth Hospital treats an average of 22,400 patients each year. Menzies will bike 100 meters for each of these patients. He hopes to raise $4375; his website has already been used to make donations totaling $3600. Local bike shop, BikeTart has gotten involved by sponsoring Menzies ride and donating 5% of sales on any transaction where “Cycle4Papworth” is mentioned. Menzies’ fundraiser is being called, “One man, Two wheels, Three Countries and An Amazing Cause.” Menzies says, “Every penny raised for the charity will go towards their [Papworth's] Mesothelioma fund, being used to research new techniques to tackle Mesothelioma.”

Menzies’ father was hospitalized for a month at the beginning of his treatments at Papworth Hospital in December. He underwent surgeries to aid his breathing by removing fluid from his lungs. Many mesothelioma treatments are available today, including such surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. However, the search for a cure continues.

Mesothelioma is characterized by a long latency period, often between twenty and fifty years. When symptoms demonstrate, they mimic those of bronchitis and pneumonia, making mesothelioma difficult to diagnose.  Mesothelioma case numbers continue to rise worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates ninety thousand cases annually if asbestos use is not curbed. Prof Julian Peto, of London School of Hygiene and Topical Medicine and the Institute of Cancer Research, says UK has the highest national mesothelioma death rate with over 2000 losses each year.

April 20, 2011

Study suggests an in-depth look at lung tissue will aid in mesothelioma diagnosis

Filed under: Treatment,Uncategorized — MesoPages @ 10:44 am

In a study done by German researchers, results suggest an in depth inspection of lung tissue may aid in early detection of mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer specific to lung lining and linings of other abdominal cavities. It develops over several decades and typically does not show signs or symptoms until twenty to fifty years after development begins. This makes mesothelioma difficult to diagnose. Symptoms mimic those of bronchitis and pneumonia when they do appear, further postponing a proper diagnosis.

Once a patient has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, life expectancy averages eighteen months, although the range may vary from six months to several years. Mesothelioma is an extremely aggressive cancer, heavily taxing patient energy levels and immune system. There are mesothelioma treatments available, the most common include a combination of surgeries, chemotherapy (often administered as a warm chemo-bath through the infected areas) and radiation therapy. Some new studies suggest that radiation therapy necessitating video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) may not benefit mesothelioma patients as multiple entry wounds are used to locate infected areas which can cause further spreading of the mesothelioma tumors.

In Germany, mesothelioma is also called occupational disease 4105, a reminder of mesothelioma’s common cause, asbestos, which is often an on-the-job or work-related hazard. Asbestos is classified as a type 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization. Present in countless building and structural components around the world, asbestos poses a threat to health and safety when its fibers and dust are released into the air. This can happen when asbestos containing materials are destroyed, damaged or broken down through simple wear and tear.

Despite its ability to cause mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer, asbestos continues to be used globally, particularly in developing countries where safety precautions are not regulated and health care facilities necessary to diagnose or treat mesothelioma are non-existent.

German researchers who conducted this recent study note that the average latency period for mesothelioma has risen to 42.5 years. Meanwhile, the average age at diagnosis has also risen to 65.5. These numbers confirm that the reality of diagnosing mesothelioma is becoming more challenging; early detection tools are a must if this disease is to be fought. The research team suggest that an in depth look at lung tissue may be the best way.

Published in Recent Results in Cancer Research, the team said, “The decrease of median asbestos burden of the lung in mesothelioma patients results in disease manifestation at a higher age.  Lung dust analyses are a relevant method for the determination of causation in mesothelioma.”

April 13, 2011

Great results in early mesothelioma detection tests

Filed under: Treatment — MesoPages @ 7:28 am

Researchers in Orlando Florida have been studying new early detection tests for pleural mesothelioma. Led by Dr. Harvey Pass, the team used Somalogic Inc.’s “Multiplex SOMAmer Assay” test to compare asbestos-exposed blood samples to samples of patients diagnosed malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma has long been difficult to diagnose as it is characterized by a latency period of several decades. Typically taking twenty to fifty years to demonstrate symptoms, this rare cancer grows through the lining of lungs and other abdominal cavities undetected. Irregularly patterned tumors spread through the mesothelium, or lining tissues, creating a web of cancerous infestation.

Mesothelioma is a commonly studied cancer as there is no known cure. Mesothelioma treatments can only offer extended life expectancy and enhanced quality of life. Due to its long development period, researchers and scientists continue to search for early detection tools as well as a final cure.

Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to toxic chemical asbestos. Most often contained in another material, such as floor tiles, insulation, or plumbing gaskets, asbestos fibers can be released due to wear and tear on the containing material, or immediate destruction such as in a fire or disaster. Once asbestos fibers are airborne they become a threat to health and safety of anyone in range. If inhaled, the fibers lodge themselves in the mesothelium and the body responds by growing pod-like tumors around the foreign matter.

Researchers in this study used SOMAmers, single-strand DNA molecules that have been chemically enhanced, to track proteins of pleural mesothelioma. Study team members were able to look for serum biomarkers using an aptamer-based proteomic platform. When the cancerous tumor cells died, they released proteins containing biological information, which aided researchers to locate 19 biomarkers.

Overall, the accuracy of “Multiplex SOMAmer Assay” in this round of testing was 93%. A staggering 15 out of 19 cases were positively detected with mesothelioma. Not only were 100% of affected samples recognized, but also 80% were accurately tested as asbestos exposed samples, in comparison to the samples of malignant pleural mesothelioma.

This is great news for a growing number of mesothelioma patients around the world. Thousands have had to wait for years just on symptom signs, and then wait again for proper diagnosis, as the disease is often misdiagnosed as bronchitis or pneumonia. Life expectancy following diagnosis averages eighteen months as the severity of mesothelioma has greatly increased by the time diagnosis is made. These study results are a huge step in the direction of early detection, and earlier treatment, for this aggressive cancer.

April 6, 2011

Aggressive treatments may lengthen life expectancy for mesothelioma patients

Filed under: Treatment — MesoPages @ 7:01 am

Thoracic surgeon Dr. David J. Sugarbaker and researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston have completed a study on extended mesothelioma patient survival times as related to aggressive treatment. The study was published in European Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery and included data from over six hundred patient cases.

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused by asbestos fibers. If asbestos fibers or dust is inhaled or ingested, it can begin a cancerous growth in the lung lining or lining of other abdominal cavities. This development takes decades to grow and symptoms are typically not seen until twenty to fifty years after asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma affects about three thousand Americans each year and an estimated fifteen to twenty thousand worldwide. Following diagnosis, patient life expectancy ranges from six months to several years, averaging eighteen months. Standard mesothelioma treatments, where available, include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Many patients choose palliative treatment to manage breathing and pain so they can gain quality of life without undergoing cancer-direct treatments.

There is no cure for mesothelioma and the case numbers are rising worldwide as asbestos continues to be used. In many developing countries the toxic chemical is used without proper safety precautions. In such countries health care facilities and treatments are minimal. The World Health Organization estimates an increase in global mesothelioma cases to ninety thousand annually if asbestos use is not curbed.

Using records available through International Mesothelioma Patient Registry, Dr. Sugarbaker and his research team found that combination mesothelioma treatments including an extrapleural pneumonectomy were more likely to result in longer patient survival times. An extrapleural pneumonectomy is a procedure specific to mesothelioma treatment and involves removal of cancerous tissue in abdominal cavity linings. Patients receiving such major surgeries underwent removal of a lung, part of the diaphragm and some chest lining tissue.

Patient cases studied included those from 1988 to 2007. Results showed that 18%, or 117 patients, lived at least three years following surgery. This percentage averaged a 59 month survival time, much greater that the average associated with less aggressive treatments.

Of the 117 patients who experienced longer survival times, one third were women and over half had mesothelioma present in the left side of the chest. Overall, extended lifetimes were associated with younger patients.

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